Succession

What does “succession” mean? Jimmy Carter 1976-1980 Ronald Reagan 1980-1988 George Bush Sr. 1988-1992 Bill Clinton 1992-2000 George Bush Jr 2000-2008 Barack Obama 2008-2016

Primary Succession Defined: Establishment and development of an ecosystem in an uninhabited environment Starts when bare rock is created or exposed

Volcanic Activity Lava cools and hardens into rock, creating new land. New barren land

Glaciers Retreat New land is exposed and ready to be inhabited. Frozen glacier New barren land Rocky land

Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land Moss and lichen grow on bare rock wind wind wind wind . . . . . . Rocky land

Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land Moss and lichen grow on bare rock . . . . . . Rocky land

Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land Moss and lichen grow on bare rock . . . . . . Rocky land

Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land Moss and lichen grow on bare rock Dead matter accumulates with rock pieces Thin soil layer begins to accumulate Allows more growth Thin layer of soil soil Rocky land

The Process Continues Seeds enter the area and grow Rocky land wind soil Rocky land

The Process Continues Seeds enter the area and grow Small flowers & shrubs accumulate more organic matter With new plants, small animals and insects inhabit the area soil soil Rocky land

Even More Time Passes Small trees take root in the accumulated organic matter More animals use the trees as a habitat soil soil Rocky land

Climax Community Large trees take root New animals inhabit new forests Overcrowd and out-compete the original smaller trees New animals inhabit new forests soil Rocky land

Secondary Succession Defined: Changes/Rebuilding that take place in an established ecosystem after a disturbance occurs Forest fires, floods, tree falls… Occurs at a faster rate (soil preexists)

Review What are the first organisms to live within a newly created patch of land called? Give examples of the answer to question #1. What are the final organisms to live within a newly created patch of land called? How are new areas of land created? Give a few examples how the process of secondary succession can start. How does primary and secondary succession differ? How is soil created?