Ecological Succession = changes in ecology SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. Ecological Succession = changes in ecology Primary Succession: Succession in areas where no ecosystem has EVER existed before. Examples: where a 1) glacier recedes or a 2) new volcanic island forms 3) Low water exposes new soil

SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. rock -> lichen -> moss -> grass -> shrub -> trees -> oak hickory forest Primary Succession

Examples, after forest fires or hurricanes SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. Secondary Succession: occurs on a surface where an ecosystem previously existed. Examples, after forest fires or hurricanes

Ecological Succession SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. Ecological Succession

SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. Secondary Succession …after Yellowstone fires

SEV3.b-c / SB4.c. A pioneer species first to colonize an uninhabited area = starts an ecological cycle (lichen and mosses) A climax community is the final, stable community in equilibrium with the environment. (mature oak forest) A keystone species has an extremely important niche in the ecosystem (sea otter)

Ecological Succession Lab SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c Ecological Succession Lab There are five groups of organisms All groups start with 0 points Record your points along with the number of years that have passed between “events” Starting time = 0 years

Title: Ecological Succession Lab SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c Title: Ecological Succession Lab Purpose: to relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems Copy down the succession timeline: 5 yrs 10 yrs 100 yrs 105 yrs 110 yrs 155 yrs 165 yrs 175 yrs 205 yrs 305 yrs End 50 yrs Start 0 yrs

Oaks and maples – take away all points Insects – take away all points SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c A glacier edges through the area scraping down to bare rock. (primary succession) Oaks and maples – take away all points Insects – take away all points Pines – take away all points Lichens – take away all points Grasses – take away all points Mammals – take away all points

5 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 5 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none Insects – add 5 Pines – none Lichens – add 30 (pioneer species) Grasses – add 5 Mammals – none

10 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 10 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none Insects – add 10 Pines – add 5 Lichens – take away 10 Grasses – add 20 Mammals – add 5

50 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – add 10 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 50 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – add 10 Insects – stay the same Pines – add 40 Lichens – take away 5 Grasses – take away 5 Mammals – add 5

100 years have passed (climax community). Oaks and maples add 25. SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 100 years have passed (climax community). Oaks and maples add 25. Insects add 13 Pines take away 25 Lichens take away 5 Grasses take away 10 Mammals add 20 climax community 

Oaks and maples take away 25 Insects take away 10 Pines take away 10 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c After 105 yrs lightning strikes and starts a fire (secondary succession) Oaks and maples take away 25 Insects take away 10 Pines take away 10 Lichens take away 9 Grasses take away 5 Mammals take away 15

5 years after a forest fire: Oaks and maples take away 5 points SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 5 years after a forest fire: Oaks and maples take away 5 points Insects add 5 Pines add 40 Lichens add 10 Grasses add 15 Mammals add 2

50 years after a forest fire Oaks and maples – add 20 Insects – add 15 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 50 years after a forest fire Oaks and maples – add 20 Insects – add 15 Pines – take away 5 Lichens – add 2 Grasses – add 5 Mammals – add 10

Oaks and maples – take away 15 Insects – take away points 10 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c A 60 years after forest fire a hurricane destroys much of the forest (secondary succession) Oaks and maples – take away 15 Insects – take away points 10 Pines – take away points 35 Lichens – take away 9 Grasses – take away 15 Mammals – take away 12

10 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples take away 2 points SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 10 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples take away 2 points Insects add 10 Pines add 10 Lichens add 1 Grasses add 15 Mammals add 5

40 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 17 Insects add 5 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 40 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 17 Insects add 5 Pines add 10 Lichens add 2 Grasses take away 5 Mammals add 10

140 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 25 Insects add 5 SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c 140 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 25 Insects add 5 Pines take away 25 Lichens add 3 Grasses take away 15 Mammals add 5 Climax Community 