1. 1 Succession

2. 2 Defining Succession Succession refers to the series of ecological changes that every community undergoes over long periods of time.

3. 3 Process of Succession Begins with relatively few plants and the animals that are associated with these plants. The plant life serves as food, and often shelter for the animal life that can survive in a particular environment. The succession in the plant life is therefore matched by a succession in animal life.

4. 4 Process of Succession Primitive community develops. The organisms gradually change the environmental conditions so each successive community paves the way for the next. Successive community develops until it becomes a final, sustainable, stable community, of dominant organisms, known as a climax community.

5. 5 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.

6. 6 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.

7. 7 Stages or Steps to Succession

8. 8 Stage 1Lichens Stage 2More Soil Stage 3Small Plants Stage 4Animals Stage 5Larger Plants Stage 6Climax Community

9. 9 Stage #1:...here comes the lichens Small hardy plants such as lichens will gradually break down the surface of rock and soil will start to form

10. 10 Stage #2:....here comes more soil As plants grow and die they add organic material to the soil. Worm and insects start to moving in.

11. 11 Stage #3:....here comes the small plants As a thin soil forms, other small plants such as grass and small shrubs will begin to grow This adds to the soil as they grow and die as well.

12. 12 Stage #4:....here comes the animals Small animals such as mice and rabbits will move into area as more and more plants grow there providing food and shelter

13. 13 Stage #5:.....here comes the larger plants Over time, as the soil becomes rich and deeper, more larger plants will grow such as large shrubs

14. 14 Stage #6......climax community is forming If the abiotic conditions are favorable, trees will grow and a forest will now be growing where once there was only bare rock

15. 15 Other Forms of Succession A forest burns down

16. 16 Other Forms of Succession A farm is abandoned

17. 17 Example of Succession

18. 18 Factors that contribute to succession 1. Climate 2. Soil 3. Geographical Features

19. 19 1. Climate The most important environmental conditions that affect succession include the climate such as temperature, precipitation, and availability of sunlight.

20. 20 2. Soils Characteristics such as salinity (amount of salt), fertility, moisture, and texture, are also very important.

21. 21 3. Geographical Features L atitude, altitude, and closeness to mountain ranges or large bodies of water are important. For example, in a hot,dry desert, the climax community will certainly be quite different from the climax community that would form in a humid but cool environment such as the forests of Newfoundland and Labrador.