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Download Succession - Field Studies Council
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Succession Name: ................................................................. Date: .................................................. Succession – a continuous sequence of changes in the species present in a community. Succession happens in stages, where vegetation develops over a period of time - these are called Seral Stages. The first plants to colonise are Pioneer Species. The plant community develops Pioneer Community to a Climax Community. There is no single climax community for an area as climax communities are not stable. A Seral Stages Prisere Climatic Climax refers to the climax community typical for that particular climat. The climax community for a Climatic Climax particular area will be partly determined by the geology/ soil and abiotic factors which are subject to change. Primary succession occurs where there is a bare substrate and wildlife has not been present. Secondary succession occurs when there is destruction of a community through natural, catastrophic or man-made influence. This kind of succession is usually more rapid than primary succession. Succession occurs in many Primary Succession Seral Stages Climax Community different environments: Lithosere – On land (rock) Psammosere – Sand Halosere – River esturies Interrupting Factor Plagio Climax Secondary Succession Hydrosere - Freshwater A disturbance or interrupting factor can occur at any stage of succession and will halt succession at a stage before the climax community is reached. This can be natural (e.g. a tree falling, a harsh storm) or the effect of human activity (e.g. cutting of trees, burning of heathland, cattle grazing). If the interrupting factor is removed, succession will resume. This is different from a catastrophe, which occurs too infrequently for species to evolve a response. Disturbances and interrupting factors can increase species diversity as it prevents dominance by just a few competitive species. Han 2008 Pioneer Community Early Succession Mid Succession Longer Living Trees e.g. Beech, Oak, Hornbeam Pioneer trees Hawthorn, Silver Birch Bramble Bracken Tussocky Grasses e.g. Purple Moor Grass Yorkshire Fog Bent grass Mat Grass Annual Meadow Grass Perennials e.g. Sorrel Mosses Idealised Succession within Epping Forest Climatic Climax Community Woodland Structure Coppicing …………..Layer …………..Layer …………..Layer Pollarding …………..Layer Soil profile description. Han 2008
