Ecological Succession Imagine

Ecological Succession

Imagine

an island just created by volcanic activity.

What

would it look like?

What

is the ground made out of? Can plants grow on this island?

Discuss within your group

“How might the island eventually support life?”

1. What is ecological succession? 2. What

are the two

major

types

of ecological succession?

3.What is a “pioneer species?” Give an example.4.What type of succession is occurring since the 2011 Texas wildfires? Explain.

the “Student Guide” on ecological succession and then answer the following questions in complete sentences in your biology notebook.

The Bastrop fire in 2011 was

the costliest and most destructive fire in the history of Texas. The devastating fire scorched 32,400 acres of land, consuming four-story tall pines, snakes, wildflowers, and thousands of other plant and animal species.

What

final ecological

stage

will

exist in Bastrop County after many years of succession?

Even though this fire caused mass destruction, it gave ecologists an opportunity to study succession in action. Foresters in the area state that the Lost Pines forest in Bastrop County will eventually regenerate, but this process will be slow. In other words, the process of succession will not be complete within the lifetime of the people who live there. Already new grasses have emerged, along with small wildflowers. Insects are back on the scene for pollination. The

climax

community

is many years away, but the process of succession is moving forward.

In your notebook, create a Venn diagram. Use the descriptors on the right

to compare

and

contrast primary and secondary succession:

a) Can reach a climax community

b) Forms on exposed rock c) No soil d) Organisms are currently there e) Pioneer species will emerge f) No previous living organisms living there g) Most common type Ecological Successionh) Occurs after volcanic eruptions i) Occurs after a hurricane j) Occurs with glaciers k) Occurs after a wildfire l) Gradual change in the environmentPrimary Both SecondarySuccession Succession

Can reach a climax community b) Forms on exposed rock c) No soil d) Organisms are currently there

Pioneer

species will

emerge No previous living organisms living there

g) Most common type Ecological SuccessionOccurs after volcanic eruptions i) Occurs after a hurricane j) Occurs with glaciers k) Occurs after a wildfire Gradual change in the environment

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

b

) Forms on

exposed rock c) No soil

f) No previous living organisms living there h) Occurs after volcanic eruptions j) Occurs with glaciers d) Organisms are

currently

there g

) Most common

type

i

) Occurs after a

hurricane

k

) Occurs after

a

wildfire

a

) Can reach

a

climax

community

e) Pioneer

species

will emerge

l

) Gradual

change

Lab Table 1

Lab Table 2

Lab Table 3

Lab Table 4

Lab Table 5

Break into 6 equal lab groups

Lab Table 6

Each station has a Student Reference Sheet describing one example of Ecological Succession and a set of questions or procedures you need to follow.

Complete the questions/procedures in your biology notebook using complete sentences and detailed drawing/graphics

You will have 5 minutes at each station to complete the activity.

Succession is Very Predictable

It is the natural changes and species replacement that takes place in the communities of an ecosystem.

Succession occurs in stages with different species of plants and animals at each stage because the conditions of that

stage are suitable for

these organisms

but not others

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage

4

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Succession

Succession

Primary Succession

takes place on land where there are no previous living organisms

Pioneer Species

such as

lichens

break down barren rock into useable soil.

New soil makes it possible for

plants

(weeds and ferns)

and

insects

to move into the community.

Stable mature community

.

As soil builds, seeds carried by wind or water allow bushes and grass to grow.

Climax Community

Secondary Succession

is the sequence

of changes

that take

place after

an existing

community is

severely damaged in some way

Succession

Deep fresh water, no rooted plants because of lack of light in deep water.

Sediments get carried into the pond allowing rooted submerged and floating plants to start growing.

Sedimentation continues, and reeds and grasses develop around the edge of the pond trapping more sediments.

A marsh community builds up around the pond. Reeds take over more of the pond as more silt builds up.

As soils around the edge begin to dry, tree species such as willows begin to grow

In a fresh

water pond

Succession

In a fresh water pond

What would you expect to happen if the lake went completely dry?

Succession

Volcano erupting in the ocean creating a new island. Primary or Secondary?

Primary Succession

Succession

Fires near Possum Kingdom lake. Primary or Secondary ?

Secondary Succession

Succession

Path behind a glacier. Primary or Secondary?

Primary Succession

Succession

Answer the following Questions?

If you hiked through a patch of land that contained a pine forest into an area that contained only ferns, shrubs, and grasses, would you be moving from an younger to an older community or an older to a younger community?

OLDER YOUNGER

Succession

Answer the following Questions?

Which community would support the greatest number and diversity of organisms the pioneer community, one of the intermediate communities or the climax community? Be ready to explain your answer.

The climax community is very stable due to the number and diversity of the organisms that live there.

Succession

What type of succession would take place if all the water from the pond evaporated and the pond went dry?

Secondary Succession

Weeds

 Grass  Small Shrubs  Hardwood Forest

Succession