Ecological Succession Gradual and orderly replacement of one plant community over a period of time Has stages

Ecological Succession Two Types Primary Succession Secondary Succession

Primary Succession The colonization of new sites Sides of volcanoes Landslides Flooding Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive Called PIONEER SPECIES

Primary Succession Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of erosion help break down rock to start the process of soil formation

Primary Succession Hickory, Oak, and Ferns, mosses, Maple Trees and grasses Pine Trees Primary Succession Pioneer Species

Each stage of succession modifies the environment for the next stage EX: Lichens will die and add organic material to the soil to help plants grow

Climax Community A stable mature community that undergoes little or no change in species This would be the Hardwood forest stage

Secondary Succession Sequence of community changes that take place after a community is disrupted by natural disaster or human action Takes less time than primary succession, because soil already exists Same Climax Community is reached

Pond Succession Increasing Sediments