Ecology Notes 3 Succession & Biomes Whale Book Chapter 3

Ecological Succession- gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance Primary Succession Occurs where no soil previously existed Occurs where no soil previously existed Ex-new islands, lava flow, bare rock Ex-new islands, lava flow, bare rock Begins with a pioneer species (ex-lichen) Begins with a pioneer species (ex-lichen) Lichen breaks up rock to form soil, enabling other organisms to move in Lichen breaks up rock to form soil, enabling other organisms to move in lichen → moss → grass → shrub s → pine trees → hardwoods lichen → moss → grass → shrub s → pine trees → hardwoods Video clip Video clip Video clip Video clip Secondary Succession Occurs when a disturbance alters a community (but soil is still present Occurs when a disturbance alters a community (but soil is still present Ex-clearing land for farming & timber; wildfires Ex-clearing land for farming & timber; wildfires grass → shrubs → pine trees → hardwoods grass → shrubs → pine trees → hardwoods Video clip Video clip Video clip Video clip

Climax community: A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species Usually an “old-growth” forest, like one with beech and maple trees Usually an “old-growth” forest, like one with beech and maple trees

biomesbiomes A large geographic area that has the same major forms of life and a similar climate A large geographic area that has the same major forms of life and a similar climate ex- tundra ex- tundra ex- desert ex- desert What other biomes can you think of? What other biomes can you think of?

Tropical rain forest Tropical dry forest Tropical savanna Temperate grassland Desert Temperate woodland and shrubland Temperate forest Northwestern coniferous forest Boreal forest (Taiga) Tundra Mountains and ice caps Biomes