1. Ecological Succession:

2. Studying how ecological communities respond to change …
Ecological communities = the plants and animals found in an area.
Succession = Sequence of communities a region goes through over time.
Change can occur for many reasons: new resources, disturbances, and biotic changes.
Sequence of communities = the order that communities change

3. Climax Community: A diverse, stable community.
Usually the final community in succession.

4. Primary Succession:
A sequence of communities forming in an originally lifeless habitat (no soil).
Very slow process due to lack of soil.

5. What are some common disturbances leading to primary succession of an area?
Volcanic eruption
Glaciers
Rock Slides (maybe—depends if it’s just rock or rock and soil)

6. Primary Succession
Pioneer Species = the first species to inhabit an otherwise lifeless area
For example: lichen
Lichen is fungi and algae living together in a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship:
Algae = makes its own food and provides food for the fungi
Fungi = breaks down organic material and makes soil
Inhabit = to live in

9. Secondary Succession
A sequence of communities forming in an area with soil.
Usually when a region has been cleared by a disturbance that does not destroy the soil.

10. What are some common disturbances that can lead to changes?
Flood
Fire
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Human activity
Rock Slides

11. Secondary Succession …
For example, after this rockslide:
Plants that were not able to compete with pine now can grow.

12. Succession Review Pioneer species comes in
First species of plant to arrive after a disturbance.
Generally are plants that grow quickly and produce many seeds.
(weeds)
Fireweed

13. Succession Review …
As time progresses, taller grass grows and shades out pioneer species.
Better roots take nutrients from soil faster
Pioneer species cannot compete and die out.