Unit 5 Section 3 Succession

Ecological Succession Succession is a series of more or less predictable changes that occur in a community over time. As succession proceeds, the number of different species present increases

Primary succession occurs when an environmental emerges for the first time There is no existing community Example: volcanic island or retreating glaciers The first plants to populate these areas are called pioneer organisms, usually lichen or algae These progress to mosses and shrubs until finally you have a whole forest community with lots of organisms in it

Secondary succession occurs when a dramatic change occurs in an environment like a forest fire, hurricane or human activities like logging and farming It is a series of slow changes that occurs until a stable climax community is reached Occurs faster than primary succession because soil remains and new and surviving plants regrow quickly