1. Succession

2. What does “succession” mean?
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
George Bush Sr.
Bill Clinton
George Bush Jr
Barack Obama

3. Primary Succession
Defined: Establishment and development of an ecosystem in an uninhabited environment
Starts when bare rock is created or exposed

4. Volcanic Activity Lava cools and hardens into rock, creating new land.
New barren land

6. Glaciers Retreat New land is exposed and ready to be inhabited.
Frozen glacier
New barren land
Rocky land

8. Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land
Moss and lichen grow on bare rock
wind
wind
wind
wind . . . . . .
Rocky land

9. Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land
Moss and lichen grow on bare rock . . . . . .
Rocky land

10. Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land
Moss and lichen grow on bare rock . . . . . .
Rocky land

11. Pioneer Species Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land
Moss and lichen grow on bare rock
Dead matter accumulates with rock pieces
Thin soil layer begins to accumulate
Allows more growth
Thin layer of soil
soil
Rocky land

12. The Process Continues Seeds enter the area and grow Rocky land wind
soil
Rocky land

13. The Process Continues Seeds enter the area and grow
Small flowers & shrubs accumulate more organic matter
With new plants, small animals and insects inhabit the area
soil
soil
Rocky land

14. Even More Time Passes
Small trees take root in the accumulated organic matter
More animals use the trees as a habitat
soil
soil
Rocky land

15. Climax Community Large trees take root New animals inhabit new forests
Overcrowd and out-compete the original smaller trees
New animals inhabit new forests
soil
Rocky land

17. Secondary Succession
Defined: Changes/Rebuilding that take place in an established ecosystem after a disturbance occurs
Forest fires, floods, tree falls…
Occurs at a faster rate (soil preexists)

33. Review
What are the first organisms to live within a newly created patch of land called?
Give examples of the answer to question #1.
What are the final organisms to live within a newly created patch of land called?
How are new areas of land created?
Give a few examples how the process of secondary succession can start.
How does primary and secondary succession differ?
How is soil created?