Food Web

Ecology/ Succesion Notes

2. Ecological Terms Biotic factors – living things that influence an ecosystem Abiotic factors – nonliving things that influence an ecosystem Limiting factors – factors that prevent biotic growth Carrying capacity – number of organisms an ecosystem can support Niche – organism’s role in an ecosystem

1. Ecological Levels a. Individual (species)

b. Population – group of individuals of the same species that can potentially interbreed

c. Community – groups of different populations interacting within a specific area

d. Ecosystem – collection of biotic and abiotic factors in an area

e. Biomes – group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities

f. Biosphere: Thin area on Earth’s surface where life exists

3. Succession Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances. Name a natural or human disturbances?

3. Succession a. As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further changes. This series of changes that occurs in a community over time is known as succession.

4. Primary succession Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists. For example, when a volcano erupts in the ocean it can create a new island. When primary succession begins there is only rock. The first species to populate the area are called pioneer species. In this case they are lichens. Lichens are made of fungus and algae. As lichens grow, they break up the rocks. When lichens die they provide organic material to help form soil. Moss, grass, and then trees begin to grow.

Lichen

5. Secondary Succession Occurs when a disturbance changes an existing community without removing the soil. a. Examples: When land is cleared for farming and then abandoned or when wildfire burns woodlands. Climax Community- mature and stable community

6. Can you put the following pictures in order of succession? B D C E 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Can you put the following pictures in order of succession? 1st 2nd 3rd A C A B B C

Can you put the following pictures in order of succession? B C 3rd 2nd 1st Primary succession or Secondary succession???

Can you put the following pictures in order of succession? Which one is the pioneer community? Climax community? Lichens and Mosses White spruce, balsam fir, & paper birch. 4 3 2 1 A C D B

Can you put the following pictures in order of succession on the time line? Primary succession or Secondary succession???

Disturbances Lab VOLCANO 2. WILDFIRE 3. HURRICANE 4. URBANIZATION 5. FARMING 6. GLACIER MELT

QuickWrite WORD WALL Succession Disturbance Pioneer species Lichen Climax community Population Diversity Use at least 5 words underline them in the sentences. Time: 2 songs.