1. Ecological Succession

2. Ecological Succession
Definition of succession: The regular progression of species replacement in a changing ecosystem (= stages/steps of an ecosystem changing as different species replace others)

3. Types of Succession Primary Succession
Takes place in areas that have not supported communities before or no life exists anymore
Secondary Succession
Takes place in an area that had once supported communities

4. Primary Succession Starts with: Bare Rock Lava Flows Sand Dunes
Clear/cold Lakes

5. Primary Succession
First species to show up in the community is called the Pioneer Species
Lichens and Moss
Native Prairie Grass

6. Succession
Each intermediate community that appears after the pioneer species is called a Seral Community.
Each seral community alters the physical factors of the area
May have small shrubs, start to have trees such as Jack Pine and Aspen
May have small animals such as rabbits, squirrels, deer

7. Succession
The last community to show up in an area is called the Climax Community.
This community is stable and permanent. A state of homeostasis has been met.
May have large trees such as Balsam Fir and White Spruce
May have animals such as elk, bear, wolves, owls.

8. Secondary Succession
Usually occurs after a disturbance or natural disaster
EX: fire, landslides, floods, wind, farming

9. Primary Vs. Secondary Succession
Secondary Succession tend to develop faster because typically there is already a soil or nutrient base present – there may even be some seeds or other dormant life.
Both types of succession go through similar phases of pioneer, seral, and climax communities.

10. Primary Succession Balsam fir, paper birch, and white spruce
Time
Small herbs
and shrubs
Heath mat
Jack pine,
black spruce,
and aspen
Balsam fir,
paper birch, and
white spruce
climax community
Exposed
rocks
Lichens
and mosses
Fig. 8.15, p. 188

11. Mature oak-hickory forest
Secondary Succession
Time
Annual
weeds
Perennial
weeds and
grasses
Shrubs
Young pine forest
Mature oak-hickory forest
Fig. 8.16, p. 189

12. Oligotrophic Lake
Succession of lake starts with a lake that does not have a lot of nutrients in it.
Characteristics:
Cold, Clear water
Support few Species
Not much biomass

13. Eutrophic lake
Process of adding nutrients to a water ecosystem is called Eutrophication. This results in a lake that
has a lot of nutrients
Is Warm
Looks “Dirty” or “Cloudy”
Supports many species
Lots of Biomass

14. Fig 10.7 Diagram of bog succession.
Fig Diagram of bog succession. Open water (a) is transformed through formation of a floating mat of sedge and deposition of sediments (b) into wetland forest (c).
© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers