Download NOTES: Succession

Ecological Succession
Enviro 2 Go
6.2.2.4, 6.2.2.5,
6.2.2.6
Ecological Succession
Objective- You should be able to:
1.
Explain and describe how succession
happens.
2. Describe primary succession.
3. Describe secondary succession.
Ecological Succession
Important Vocabulary
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Ecological Succession
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Old-field Succession
Pioneer Species
Climax Community
Ecological Succession
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Ecosystems
change over
time.
A shallow
lake gradually
fills in over
time and
becomes a
meadow.
Ecological Succession
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A forest burns and becomes a field.
Ecological Succession
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A beaver dams a stream and creates a pond.
Ecological Succession
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These changes occur in a regular pattern and are
called ecological succession.
Ecological Succession
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Succession is the change in an ecosystem from
simple to more complex over time.
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Remember a complex ecosystem is one that has great
biodiversity.
REMEMBER THIS!!!
Succession is a process where the ever-changing
environment favors one species over another.
Certain species will replace another species
because they are more suited to the new
environment.
(ex. shade vs. full sun)
Question???
Question 1: What is ecological succession?
Two Types of Succession
There are two types of succession:
1. Primary succession
2. Secondary succession
Primary Succession
1. Primary succession is when plants grow where
they have never grown before, such as on a
new volcanic island.
Primary Succession
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A good definition of
primary succession is
when life begins to
grow in an area that
previously did not
support life. It is also
defined as the type of
succession that occurs
where no ecosystem
existed before.
Primary Succession
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Primary succession can occur on rocks, sand
dunes, after volcanic eruption, or glacial retreat.
Usually the first species to begin primary
succession is some type of algae, lichen (likens),
or moss. All of these species are very hardy and
simple plants. You normally see them as a green
film growing on the shady sides of trees and
sometimes houses.
Once these pioneers get established, they can
change the area so that more complex organisms
can live there.
Secondary Succession
2. Secondary succession is when plants grow in an
area that had plants growing before, such as a
field or forest that was cleared or burned.
Secondary Succession
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Secondary succession is more common than
primary succession. Secondary succession occurs
in ecosystems that have been disturbed or
disrupted.
Secondary Succession
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After a forest fire, forest clearing, or a field is abandoned,
new sun-loving plants, such as grasses, are often the first
to begin secondary succession. As they grow they create
shade.
Shade-loving plants, such as mountain laurel, grow and
create even more shade.
The increased shade creates a lack of sunlight for the sunloving plants. Because of the shade, the sun-loving plants
fail to reproduce and eventually die.
The sun-loving plants are replaced in the ecosystem by
the shade-loving plants that reproduce successfully in the
shade. As plant species change, so do the animal species
that occupy the area.
Secondary Succession
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A good example of secondary succession is
when a fire destroys an area and the plants and
animals begin to reestablish themselves in the
area that was burned.
Secondary Succession
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Old-field Succession occurs when farmland is
abandoned. When the field is no longer
cultivated, grasses and weeds grow rapidly and
produce many seeds to cover larger areas.
REMEMBER THIS!!!
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Primary succession occurs where there has
not been a previous ecosystem.
Secondary succession occurs after a
disturbance in an existing ecosystem.
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Secondary succession is usually much faster
than primary succession.
Questions???
Question 2: What is the major difference
between primary and secondary succession?
Question 3: Give an example of secondary
succession around where you live.
Ecological Succession
Whether it’s the lichen, moss, or algae
invading rock during primary succession, or
grasses invading an area after a disturbance
during secondary succession; the first
organisms to colonize the area are known
as pioneer species.
REMEMBER THIS!!!
Pioneer species are the first organisms to
invade an area during ecological
succession.
Climax Community
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Ecological succession will occur until a
climax community is reached.
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A climax community is when the vegetation
has reached a stable state; equilibrium.
The climax community will continue to
exist until there is a disturbance.
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Natural disasters
Human disturbance
Climax Community
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Climax communities typically contain
hardwood trees such as oaks, hickory,
maples, and beech trees.
Climax Community
REMEMBER THIS!!!
Climax Communities will persist until there is
a disturbance!
Questions???
Question 4: What is a pioneer species?
Question 5: What is the final stage of
ecological succession?
Question 6: When does a climax
community change?
Succession Animations
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View the following animations about
primary and secondary succession.
Primary Succession on the Galapagos Islands
Secondary Succession After Fire
Test Yourself
True or False
____ 1. The major difference between primary succession
and secondary succession is that primary succession
occurs only on land and secondary succession occurs
in ponds and lakes.
____ 2. A receding (melting and moving farther north)
glacier is a good example of secondary succession.
____ 3. Ecosystems usually never change over time.
____ 4. Climax communities are the first species to invade
an area.
____ 5. A climax community is the final stage of succession.
Test Yourself
Matching
____ 1. Succession
____ 2. Climax Community
____ 3. Pioneer Species
____ 4. Primary Succession
____ 5. Secondary Succession
A. Example of when plants grow
in an area that had plants
growing before.
B. When plants grow where there
have never been plants before.
C. The final, stable state of
succession.
D. The first species to colonize an
area.
E. Regular progression of species
replacement in an environment.
Test Yourself
Fill in the Blank
secondary succession
primary succession
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
pioneer species
climax community
old-field succession
Plants growing in an area where there were once plants
before is called_______________ ________________.
____________ __________________is when plants grow
where there have never been any before.
The _______________ _______________ is typically a
hardwood forest that will remain until a disturbance.
______ __________ _________________ occurs after a
farmer stops cultivating their fields.
Lichens are an example of a ___________ ____________
that colonizes rock during primary succession.
Test Yourself
Answer the Following
1. Describe the difference between primary and
secondary succession. Provide examples for both.
2. When does a climax community change?
3. Describe how the species changed and the type of
succession that occurred in LaPlata after the tornado
came through
THE END!!!