Download Climax Community

What evidence do we have that ecosystems change?
Have you ever noticed a fast CHANGE in
an ecosystem?
Have you ever noticed an ecosystem change?
HAVE YOU EVER CHANGED AN
ECOSYSTEM?
HAVE YOU EVER CHANGED AN
ECOSYSTEM?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LEAVE THESE
CHANGED ECOSYSTEMS ALONE??
WHAT IS SUCCESSION?
Key Terms for Succession
 Succession
 Pioneer Species
 Primary Succession
 Secondary Succession
 Climax Community
Succession Video - Explanation
WHAT IS SUCCESSION?
Succession: the series of ecological changes that every
community undergoes over long periods of time.
Pioneer Species: The first organisms to return to
an ecosystem after a dramatic change. They often
help to make the environment better for other
organisms to return.
Ex: Lichens and lupins
CLIMAX COMMUNITY
Climax Community: The final stage of
succession. This occurs after many years and the
ecosystem has reached a new balanced state. There
is a wide variety of animals, and larger
plants/trees, and trees of different sizes/ages.
MAIN RIVER FOREST, NEWFOUNDLAND
TYPES OF SUCCESSION

1.
2.
Two main types of succession:
Primary succession
Secondary Succession
PRIMARY SUCCESSION
Occurs following a change in the environment that has
left only bare rock. This means that there is no soil
around for plants to quickly move back in.
PRIMARY SUCCESSION
PRIMARY SUCCESSION

Primary Succession is a very slow process that
can take thousands of years and occurs in the
following general sequence:
STAGES OR STEPS TO SUCCESSION
Stage
1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
24
Lichens
More Soil
Small Plants
Animals
Larger Plants
Climax Community
STAGE #1:...HERE COMES THE LICHENS
Lichens
start to
grow on the rock.
These are called
pioneer species.
25
STAGE #2:....HERE COMES MORE SOIL
The
lichens break
down the rock and
start to form soil.
26
STAGE #3:....HERE COMES THE SMALL
PLANTS
 Small,
hardy plants begin to grow in
the soil.
27
STAGE #4:....HERE COMES THE ANIMALS
 Animals
begin to return
to the environment and
feed on the small plants
28
STAGE #5:.....HERE COMES THE LARGER
PLANTS

29
Stage 5: Larger plants grow as amount of soil
increases from dying plants/animals.
STAGE #6......CLIMAX COMMUNITY IS
FORMING
Climax
community is
formed. Lots of
mature trees and
high biodiversity.
30
CLIMAX COMMUNITY.....FINAL STAGE
OF SUCCESSION
The
climax community is the
final stage of ecological
succession. This stage has the
greatest diversity of organisms
and very complex food chains
and food webs.
31
SECONDARY SUCCESSION

Occurs following a change that has left soil on
the ground. This makes it much easier for plants
and other organisms to return to the area.
SECONDARY SUCCESSION

Secondary succession follows the same general
pattern as Primary succession, but it happens
much more rapidly because there is already soil.
(Skip directly to stage#3!)
SECONDARY SUCCESSION
CLIMAX COMMUNITY.....FINAL STAGE OF
SUCCESSION
 Succession
will occur whenever there
are favorable circumstances.
 Over
a long period of time (1000’s of
years) an area can change from bare
rock to a forest if the abiotic and
biotic factors are favorable. This
change would take place in a series of
steps or stages.
36
MT. ST. HELEN’S VOLCANIC EXPLOSION

A massive volcanic explosion in the united states
gave Ecologists an excellent opportunity to study
succession of a forest ecosystem.
STAGES OR STEPS TO SUCCESSION
Stage
1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
43
Lichens
More Soil
Small Plants
Animals
Larger Plants
Climax Community
STAGE #1:...HERE COMES THE LICHENS
Lichens
start to
grow on the rock.
These are called
pioneer species.
44
STAGE #2:....HERE COMES MORE SOIL
The
lichens break
down the rock and
start to form soil.
45
STAGE #3:....HERE COMES THE SMALL
PLANTS
 Small,
hardy plants begin to grow in
the soil.
46
STAGE #4:....HERE COMES THE ANIMALS
 Animals
begin to return
to the environment and
feed on the small plants
47
STAGE #5:.....HERE COMES THE LARGER
PLANTS

48
Stage 5: Larger plants grow as amount of soil
increases from dying plants/animals.
STAGE #6......CLIMAX COMMUNITY IS
FORMING
Climax
community is
formed. Lots of
mature trees and
high biodiversity.
49
CLIMAX COMMUNITY.....FINAL STAGE
OF SUCCESSION
The
climax community is the
final stage of ecological
succession. This stage has the
greatest diversity of organisms
and very complex food chains
and food webs.
50
WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO SUCCESSION?

Climate is a big factor!!
Climate is a very important environmental
condition that affects succession and includes:
 Temperature
 Precipitation
 Availability of sunlight
**Abiotic Factors!!**