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How Ecosystems Change
Ecological Succession
● The observed process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. ● Occurs in a series of steps. For example, small plants grow first and large plants like trees grow last. Primary Succession
● Succession that begins in new habitats with little to no soil and pre­existing communities of plants. ● Occurs on a lava flow, a desert, exposed rock, or other very desolate area. Secondary Succession
● Succession that follows the disturbance or destruction of a pre­existing community. ● Examples of disruptions include: ○ Forest fire ● Floods ● Tornadoes or other weather events ● Human logging and agriculture Pioneer Organisms
● The first species that come in to populate an area during primary succession or repopulate an area during secondary succession (area suffering damage) are called pioneer species. ● Examples of pioneer species: ● Mosses and lichen ● Grasses ● Small shrubs Climax Community and Climax Organisms
● The species of plants that take a long time to get established, but provide a sense of permanence to an environment. This is the final stage of ecological succession and the community no longer goes through major ecological changes. ● Examples of climax organisms: ●
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Redwood trees Douglas Fir White Oak Aquatic Succession
● Sediments carried by rainwater and streams accumulate on the bottoms of ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Over time, more and more soil accumulates and the water disappears and becomes land. ● Eutrophication is the process of a body of water becoming nutrient rich. This occurs when decaying organisms fall to the bottom of a lake, pond, or wetland. Ecological Succession
How Ecosystems Change
Ecological Succession
● The observed process of ______________ in the species structure of an ecological community over _____________. ● Occurs in a _________________ of steps. For example, _____________ plants grow first and large plants like ________________ grow _________________. Primary Succession
● Succession that begins in __________habitats with little to no __________ and pre­existing communities of __________________. ● Occurs on a lava flow, a __________________, exposed rock, or other very ___________________ area. Secondary Succession
● Succession that follows the _______________________ or destruction of a pre­______________ community. ● Examples of disruptions include: ○ Forest fire ○ _______________________ ○ Tornadoes or other weather events ○ Human ___________________ and agriculture Pioneer Organisms
● The _________________ species that come in to populate an area during primary succession or repopulate an area during secondary succession (area suffering damage) are called __________________ species. ● Examples of pioneer species: ○ Mosses and _____________________ ○ Grasses ○ _________________ shrubs Climax Community and Climax Organisms
● The species of plants that take a ___________ time to get established, but provide a sense of _________________ to an environment. This is the ____________ stage of ecological succession and the community no longer goes through ________________ ecological changes. ● Examples of climax organisms: ○ _________________ trees ○ Douglas Fir ○ White Oak Aquatic Succession
● Sediments carried by rainwater and streams ________________________ on the bottoms of ponds, lakes, and ___________________. Over time, more and ____________ soil accumulates and the water____________________ and becomes land. ● ______________________ is the process of a body of water becoming ____________________ rich. This occurs when __________________organisms fall to the bottom of a lake, pond, or wetland. Ecological Succession