Succession in Ecosystems SOL BIO 9c

Warm-up: Decide if you agree or disagree with each of these statements. As you read this lesson, see if you change your mind about any of the statements. 1. An ecosystem never changes. 2. Nothing grows in the area where a volcano has erupted.

This object was once part of a mining system used to move copper and iron ore. Today, so many forest plants have grown around it that it is barely recognizable. How do you think this happened? What do you think this object will look like after 500 more years?

Succession- a series of changes in a community in which new populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones

Primary succession- colonization of new sites by communities of organisms – takes place on bare rock

Primary succession- New bare rock comes from 2 sources: 1. volcanic lava flow cools and forms rock

Primary succession- New bare rock comes from 2 sources: 2. Glaciers retreat and expose rock

Pioneer organisms- the first organisms to colonize a new site Ex: lichens are the first to colonize lava rocks

Primary Succession- Rock

Climax community- a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no succession

Climax community- Ex: In most of Virginia, the climax community would be a deciduous oak–hickory forest                                                                                                                                 

Secondary succession- sequence of community changes that takes place when a community is disrupted by natural disaster or human actions – takes place on existing soil

Secondary succession- Ex: A fire levels portions of a forest

Secondary succession- Ex: A farmer plows his field

Secondary succession-

Secondary succession-

Pond Succession

Pond Succession