Ecological Succession

What is Succession? Succession – a gradual development of a community over time

Primary Succession SLOW and takes place over a long period of time Primary Succession – Takes place on newly exposed surfaces where nothing has ever grown before SLOW and takes place over a long period of time Examples: A new area created after a lava flow newly exposed area after a glacier has melted

Primary Succession

Primary Succession Example: Lichen create soil by breaking up rock Pioneer Species – the first organism to live on the rock or newly exposed area Example: Lichen create soil by breaking up rock

Primary Succession climax community pioneer species soil & grasses small shrubs climax community

Secondary Succession Secondary Succession – occurs when an existing community is destroyed and then regrows through a series of stages Takes place in area where there has been previous growth FASTER process (rapid) because soil is already present Examples: abandoned farm, forest fire

Secondary Succession

Secondary Succession

Yellowstone National Park forest fire of 1988 Secondary Succession Yellowstone National Park forest fire of 1988

Why is Secondary Succession a faster / more rapid process than Primary Succession?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kkWxUgMHfA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ta57mOHbY