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Ecological Succession Notes

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Presentation on theme: "Ecological Succession Notes"— Presentation transcript:

1 Ecological Succession Notes

2 Ecological Succession
Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances.

3 As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further changes in the community.

4 Definitions Ecological Succession – a series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time. Includes - slow changes in the physical environment or sudden natural disturbances from human activities like clearing forests.

5 Primary Succession – On land, succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists.

6 Colonization of new sites by communities of organisms – takes place on bare rock
Pioneer species – the first species to inhabit an area. Ex. Lichens are the first to colonize lava rocks

7 Primary Succession – Ex. #1
When volcanic eruptions build new islands or cover land with lava rock or volcanic ash.

8 Primary Succession – Ex #2
When bare rock is exposed as glaciers melt.

9 PRIMARY SUCCESSION

10 Secondary Succession – when a disturbance of some kind changes an existing community without removing the soil – takes place on existing soil.

11 Secondary Succession – Ex. #1
When land cleared and plowed for farming is abandoned.

12 Secondary Succession – Ex. #2
When wildfires burn woodlands.

13 SECONDARY SUCCESSION

14 Climax Community –a mature, stable community that undergoes little or no succession.

15 Succession Clip and Mt. Saint Helens
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