Ecological Succession

Succession Definition: The regular progression of species replacement in a changing ecosystem

Types of Succession Primary Succession Takes place in areas that have not supported communities before or no life exists anymore Secondary Succession Takes place in an area that supported communities instead of barren land

Types of Primary Succession Bare Rock Lava Flows Sand Dunes Lakes a.html

Types of Secondary Succession Usually occurs after a disturbance or natural disaster EX: fire landslides floods wind farming Cutting your lawn

Primary Succession First species to show up in the community is called the Pioneer Species Lichens and Moss Native Prairie Grass

Succession Each intermediate community that appears after the pioneer species is called a Seral Community. Each seral community alters the physical factors of the area

Succession The last community to show up in an area is called the Climax Community. This community is stable and permanent. A state of homeostasis has been met. tm

Primary Succession Time Small herbs and shrubs Heath mat Jack pine, black spruce, and aspen Balsam fir, paper birch, and white spruce climax community Exposed rocks Lichens and mosses Fig. 8.15, p. 188

Secondary Succession Time Annual weeds Perennial weeds and grasses Shrubs Young pine forest Mature oak-hickory forest Fig. 8.16, p. 189

Succession and Wildlife Early Successional Species Rabbit Quail Ringneck pheasant Dove Bobolink Pocket gopher Midsuccessional Species Elk Moose Deer Ruffled grouse Snowshoe hare Bluebird Late Successional Species Turkey Martin Hammond’s Flycatcher Gray squirrel Wilderness Species Grizzly bear Wolf Caribou Bighorn sheep California condor Great horned owl Ecological succession Fig. 8.17, p. 190

Lakes and Ponds Process of adding nutrients to a water ecosystem is called Eutrophication.

Oligotrophic Lake Lake that does not have a lot of nutrients in it. Characteristics: Cold Clear water Support few Species Not much biomass

Eutrophic lake Lake that has a lot of nutrients in it Characteristics: Warm “Dirty” or “Cloudy” Supports many species Lots of Biomass

© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers Fig 10.7 Diagram of bog succession.

Primary Succession Krakatoa Story

Secondary Succession Maywood Example

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