Succession in Ecosystems SOL BIO 9c 1

Succession- a series of changes in a community in which new populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones 2

Primary succession- colonization of new sites by communities of organisms – takes place on bare rock 3

Primary succession- New bare rock comes from 2 sources: 1. volcanic lava flow cools and forms rock 4

Primary succession- New bare rock comes from 2 sources: 2. Glaciers retreat and expose rock 5

Pioneer organisms- the first organisms to colonize a new site Ex: lichens are the first to colonize lava rocks 6

Primary Succession- Rock 7

Climax community- a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no succession 8

Climax community- Ex: In most of Virginia, the climax community would be a deciduous oak–hickory forest 9

Climax community- Ex: In most of Western Oregon, the climax community would be a coniferous Hemlock & Cedar forest 10

Primary succession- 11

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 12

Secondary succession- Ex: A fire levels portions of a forest 13

Secondary succession- Ex: A farmer plows his field 14

Secondary succession- 15

Secondary succession- 16

Pond Succession 17

Pond Succession 18

Pond Succession 19

Pond Succession 20