How Ecosystems Change Naturally

What changes will you see?

Succession The normal, gradual changes that occur in the types of species that live in an area.

Primary Succession How will these areas (volcanic rock and glacial rock deposit) change? What will plants need to survive here?

Primary Succession Succession that begins in a place that previously had no soil or plants.

Pioneer Species First plants to inhabit an area. They often begin the soil building process by breaking down the rocks along with weathering and erosion.

Lichen A common pioneer species, it produces acid that helps weather the rock into soil. When it dies, it will also help fertilize the newly forming soil.

As soil forms, seeds are blown in or dropped by birds or other animals

Secondary Succession Succession that occurs where soil is already present.

Secondary succession occurs much faster than primary succession-Why?

Climax Community A community of plants that is relatively stable and undisturbed and has reached an end stage of succession. (ex-a forest)

Review

What type of succession will occur here? Surtsey, an island off the coast of Iceland. It was created in 1963 by a volcanic eruption.

Primary Succession

What will the first species to move in be called? Pioneer Species

What is a common pioneer species? Lichen (Like-ehn)

What type of succession will occur here? Secondary succession

What is the final stage of succession called? Climax Community