Succession… Changes in the structure of a community of organisms; the replacement of existing species by more recently arriving species.

Before After

Primary Succession : After a major disturbance such as an ice age, the rocks are bare, there isn’t even soil, so it is with great difficultly that the plants return and re-establish themselves.

Pioneer species: Pioneer species: the organisms that come first…they will establish themselves on bare rock and start to change the ecosystem!

Secondary Succession… This type of succession begins after a disturbance which doesn’t remove all of the vegetation. (Not down to the bare rocks) Examples: forest fires deforestation construction volcanos

Secondary succession in a farm field that used to be a forest

Which type of ecological succession? A tornado uproots trees and shrubs and destroys grass root systems. The tornado drops debris allover the land. A few months after the tornado, residents notice green grass starting to grow back. Two years later hikers enjoy identifying the small shrubs that have moved in and 10 years later the area is covered with beautiful oak trees

Secondary succession A tornado uproots trees and shrubs and destroys grass root systems. The tornado drops debris allover the land. A few months after the tornado, residents notice green grass starting to grow back. Two years later hikers enjoy identifying the small shrubs that have moved in and 10 years later the area is covered with beautiful oak trees

Which type of ecological succession? Starts with a volcanic eruption where lava cools into igneous rock. Wind and water bring in moss or lichens and they grow on the rock surface. Wind and water also break down the rock, overtime forming soil

Primary succession Starts with a volcanic eruption where lava cools into igneous rock. Wind and water bring in moss or lichens and they grow on the rock surface. Wind and water also break down the rock, overtime forming soil

TOTD

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