Ecology – Part 5 - Succession - PowerPoint Presentation

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Ecology – Part 5 - Succession

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1.

What is

Ecological Succession?i.

Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area. It is the gradual replacement of one plant community by another through natural processes over

time.ii.

Succession is identified as primary or secondary

succession

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2.

Succession

types:i.

Primary succession: an area of newly exposed land that has NEVER

been occupied by a living (biotic) community. Starts with barren rock

. ii. Secondary succession: takes place where a community has been removed (cut forest, forest fire).

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3. Primary Succession:i.

Begins in a place without any soil

(barren rock): a. Sides of volcanoes b. Landslides

c. FLASH Flooding (severe)

d. Receding glaciersii. First species: Lichens that do not need soil to survive grow on rocks

iii. Lichens are made up of a

fungi

and an algae (mutualistic relationships). The algae performs photosynthesis, providing food for

both, while the fungi absorbs water and minerals and provides shelter for the algae.Slide5

3. Primary Succession:iv. Next,

mosses

grow to hold newly made soilv. First organisms to move into harsh growing conditions are

known PIONEER SPECIES (i.e. lichen and mosses)

v. Soil

starts to form as lichens and the forces of weather and erosion help break down rocks into smaller piecesvii. When pioneer species

die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic matter to the rock to make soil viii.

The soil layer thickens, allowing other plants to begin to take over.

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3. Primary Succession:ix. Typically the order after soil development is:

a. F

lowers/weeds (annual plants) b. Ferns

and grasses (perennial plants)c. Shrubs and bushes

(larger vascular plants)d.

Trees (largest vascular plants) i. First softwoods, like pine and fir trees ii. Second hardwoods, like oak and maple trees

x. As each new species decomposes, they enrich and thicken the soil.

xi. As the vegetation develops, insects, small birds, and mammals begin to move into the area.Slide7
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4. Secondary Succession:i. Begins in a place that

already has soil

and was once the home of living organisms ii. Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession (i.e. grasses)

iii. Examples: a. A

fter

forest firesb. After creeping floods

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5. Climax Community:i. A stable group of plants and animals that is the

end result of the succession

processii. Does not always mean big trees

a. Examples: i

. Grasses in prairies

ii. Cacti in desertsiii. Pond sedimentation growthSlide10

5. Climax Community:iii. A mature climax community can exist until the

environment changes, but forests are not immune to destruction. Fires, deforestation, and natural disasters can destroy a forest and force it to go back through the

stages of ecological succession.