Succession, Nutrient Cycles & Pollution Compare primary and secondary succession. How are matter and nutrients recycled through an ecosystem?

Succession – the predictable changes that an environment goes through as its being established or redeveloping Competition for light influences the stages of succession.

Primary Succession -

Stages of Primary Succession: Pioneer species – Lichens Mosses & Ferns Grasses Shrubs & small softwood trees Large hardwood trees (climax community)

Secondary Succession -

Keystone species – critical to homeostasis ex Keystone species – critical to homeostasis ex. Top predators (sharks, mountain lions), hummingbirds -pollinators Climax community – stable ecosystem in equilibrium or steady state Other Vocab

Nutrient Cycles Matter and Nutrients are recycled through an ecosystem. Energy, however, is replenished by the sun.

Water Cycle Water occurs on Earth as a solid, liquid, and gas. PrecipitationAccumulationEvaporationCondensation

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle Carbon is found in ALL living things- Organic Molecules

Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen makes up almost 78% of air. Every living organism needs nitrogen to make proteins & nucleic acids Nitrogen fixation by lightning & bacteria

Nitrogen Fixation Many organisms cannot directly use the nitrogen to make protein and DNA Nitrogen Fixation- bacteria living on roots of legumes (bean family) convert N2 to NH3 “Fixed” Nitrogen NH3 “Fixed” Nitrogen is then passed from consumer to consumer along the food chain The nitrogen is then “reused”