Title your page: Succession Notes

Succession: The growth of an area through the gradual replacement of one plant community by another eventually leading to a stable ecosystem.

Two types of succession: Primary vs. Secondary Read Only What similarities and differences do you see?

6/5/03M-DCC / PCB 2340C4 Two Types of Succession: –Primary Succession: The process of creating life in an area where no life previously existed. –Secondary Succession: The process of regrowth that follows a disturbance in an area where life previously existed.

Primary Succession CAUSED BY: A volcanic eruption in which the magma hardens and cools creating igneous rock (new land). This box is READ ONLY: Primary means FIRST: Since new land is created, there was never a living community there which means it is undergoing succession for the 1 st time. Highlight this title

Stages of Primary Succession STARTS WITH: Bare Rock Stage 1: Lichens grow on the bare rock. Lichens are the first living species which makes them the pioneer species. Pioneer species must be photosynthesizers. –Lichens are algae and fungus growing together in a symbiotic relationship. Algae make the food; fungus anchor and capture water.

Lichens cause weathering by releasing chemicals that break down rock into sand (fine particles of rock) over many years. When lichens die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic matter to the sand to eventually make soil.

Stage 2: Once a small amount of soil is present, moss may start to grow in the area. –As moss dies and decays, organic matter is added to soil. The soil progressively becomes thicker and contains more nutrients.

Stage 3: Weeds and grasses will start to grow when the soil is thick enough. These seeds are carried to the area by the wind. –As grasses and weeds die, they are decomposed and added to the soil.

Stage 4: When soil is thick enough, shrubs and small trees will start to grow. –Pine trees are the first type of trees to grow in an area since they require less water and fewer soil nutrients.

Stage 5: When the soil becomes rich enough, deciduous trees replace the pine trees. –Deciduous trees (trees that shed leaves) have the ability to grow taller than pine trees which causes the pine trees to die from a lack of light. This box is read only: The leaves that shed each year decompose which continues to add nutrients to the soil.

Stage 6: Eventually a mature temperate deciduous forest forms which is the climax community. –Climax community: –Climax community: A mature, stable, sustainable community of plants and animals that has reached full potential is the end result of the succession process. Wild flowers and small shrubs adapted to living with low amounts of light may grow on the forest floor.

Climax Community Facts: A community is still undergoing succession as long as the species keep changing. The same climax community will develop unless the abiotic conditions have changed. In an ecosystem with a climax community, the conditions continue to be suitable for all the members of the community. Any particular region has its own set of climax species, which are the plants that are best adapted for the area and will persist after succession has finished, until another disturbance clears the area. Each species is adapted to thrive and compete best against other species under a very specific set of environmental conditions. If these conditions change, then the existing species will be outcompeted by a different set of species which are better adapted to the new conditions. Read Only

Draw and label EVERYTHING shown in this picture.

6/5/03M-DCC / PCB 2340C15 Read Only Extra view #1 of Primary Succession

Extra view #2 of Primary Succession Read Only

Threats to Climax Communities Natural disasters: –Forest fires, flooding, tornados, hurricanes Human activities: –Deforestation, building cities and roads, farming Secondary Succession Anything that destroys the existing community but will leave much of the soil remaining will cause Secondary Succession to occur.

Secondary Succession CAUSED BY: Natural disasters (except volcanic eruptions) and human activities Occurs faster because it begins in a place that already has soil This box is READ ONLY: Secondary means second: Since an ecosystem previously existed, this is the second (or more) time that succession will occur. BEFORE forest fire AFTER forest fire Highlight this title

Stages of Secondary Succession STARTS WITH: Soil Stage 1: Grass and weeds grow in the soil which makes them the pioneer species. Stage 2: Shrubs begin to grow Stage 3: Fast-growing, small, shade intolerant trees come in such as Pine Trees Stage 4: These are replaced with slower- growing, tall, hardwood trees such as Oak and Maple Trees.

Both types of succession follow the same stages once grass begins to grow. Read Only

Draw and label EVERYTHING shown in this picture.

Read Only Extra view #1 of Secondary Succession Notice how each new species replaces the previous one.

Read Only Extra view #2 of Secondary Succession

Primary Succession Secondary Succession Assignment Use a Double Bubble to identify two similarities and two differences for each side. (total of 6 statements)