Download Name

SUCCESSION
Succession: The gradual ____________ in species occupying an area. It is one group of
species being replaced by another group of species – this continues until a
stable, mature community is established.
This is due to changes in one or more abiotic or biotic factors favoring some species
over another. There are two types of succession: primary and secondary.
Pioneer species: Plant or animal species that are the __________ to occupy a newly
exposed or disturbed area.
Primary Succession: The development of plant and animal life in a previously
_________________ habitat with little or no soil. Some examples of areas like
this are:
 Glaciation (glaciers)
 Volcanic lava flows that form brand new land
 Faulting raising sea floor
All of the above examples provide pioneer plants with bare rock or soil to begin
succession with. In primary succession pioneer plants like mosses, lichen, and algae
start to "normalize" the habitat, creating conditions more __________ for plant
growth. These pioneer plants are then dominated by plants that are better adapted to
these new conditions (grasses, then shrubs, then trees).
Secondary Succession: As opposed to primary succession, secondary succession is a
process started by an event that reduces an already _______________ ecosystem
to a smaller population of species. Secondary succession occurs on preexisting
soil whereas primary succession usually occurs in a place lacking soil. Succession
proceeds at a ____________ pace during secondary succession since soil is
already pre-formed and ready for use by plants (so it does not need the mosses,
lichen, and algae to come first). Some examples of areas like this are:




Forest Fires
Disease
Climatic Conditions - Hurricane, tornado, drought, windstorms, etc........
Human Disturbance - Roadsides, clear cutting, yards, etc..........
Comic strip assignment about succession – do it in this order
 Choose primary or secondary succession.
 Decide on a plot. There needs to be characters doing or saying something in
your comic strip.
 Draw the comic strip with as many panels as you want it to. Your first panel
can show a new area forming (primary succession) or the disturbance of an
established area (secondary succession).
 Label the comic strip as primary or secondary succession. You may give it a
title, too, if you want to.