Download Primary Succession :Case study in Acadia National

Ecological Succession-a series of changes
that occur in a community over time
• Primary succession- changes that occur in an
area where no ecosystem previously existed.
Example: a new island forms and the rock then
lichens and mosses begin growing on the new
land.
• Secondary Succession- changes following a
disaster occurs in a place where an ecosystem
was already established. Occurs more rapidly
than primary succession.
Primary Succession :Case study in
Acadia National Park in Maine
lichens and algae
Secrete acids which begin to extract
nutrients from the rock and which form
tiny cracks which are widened by
freezing and thawing. As the cracks
widen they trap enough organic material
and moisture for mosses to take hold.
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/succession.htm
Larger cracks have enough soil to support
grasses and small shrubs. The largest
cracks come together to form small basins
where trees can take root, although the
tree in the photo below didn't make it too
long; perhaps a drought exhausted the
water in the small basin. However, in the
background the climax coniferous forest
is visible where enough soil has
accumulated to support the trees
Primary Succession Case Study:
Mt.Rainier (volcano) in Washington
The lichens are the first
to appear (although
they are hard to spot
here). More obvious
are the mosses,
grasses and small
plants like flowers
Each stage
accumulates soil
and organic
material that
facilitates the
growth of the
next stage
Primary Succession-Dune Succession:
Indiana Dunes of Lake Michigan
Here, sand washed up onto the beach is piled by the wind into tall dunes
which slowly moves away from the lake (above). If plants can get root,
they slow the wind, encourage it to drop its sand, and stabilize the dune,
stopping its motion
Secondary Succession: Lake
Succession
A former bog in Maine has almost completely filled. A former lake, formed originally
when a large piece of ice broke off a retreating glacier, is now well along the
transition to dry land. These kettlehole lakes often support an extensive mat of
floating vegetation.
Fire and Secondary Succession at
Yellowstone National Park
11 years after the fire
Fire plays a complex role in succession. Usually, a fire stops the
progression of succession and sets the stage for new, secondary
succession as plants take root and grow in the soil enriched by the mineral
ashes of their predecessors.
Reflection: Write your response
on your own sheet of paper.
• 1. How is the primary succession seen in
the Indiana Dunes of Lake Michigan alike
and different from the primary succession
in Acadia National Park in Maine?
• 2. How is the succession of the forest fire
in Yellowstone National Park different from
the succession on Mt.Ranier in
Washington? Explain your answer with
details.