1. Use this outline for your notes:
I Definitions
A. Succession
B. Pioneer Species
C. Climax Communities
II Primary Succession
A. Definition
B. Examples
III Secondary Succession
A. Definition

2. Succession: changes in the communities of an ecosystem over time
Pioneer plants are the first plants to become established
Climax communities are the “end products” of succession – the mature ecosystem

3. Primary succession
going from no community at all AND NO SOIL to an entire ecosystem
Starts WITHOUT SOIL – examples: starting with sand, bare rock, volcanic ash, lava, gravel from a glacier retreating
There may have been a previous community, but if a disturbance covers the soil so only minerals are left – it is primary succession.
PIONEER PLANTS of primary succession include mosses, lichens

4. Primary Succession
After a volcano

5. Secondary succession
Follows a disturbance (example: fire, flood) of an existing community that DAMAGES the vegetation, but does NOT REMOVE THE SOIL
Starts WITH SOIL!!!!
PIONEER PLANTS start from roots or seeds (small annual plants) remaining in the soil or from seeds carried in
Faster than primary succession.

6. Secondary Succession After a large disaster – like a fire or flood
Begins WITH soil
Area was PREVIOUSLY colonized

7. Secondary succession – know this order

8. Primary or secondary?

9. It is primary succession
One more time: primary succession occurs in areas where no soil exists (bare rock, desert sand)
Secondary succession occurs in places where well-developed soil already exists.