1. Unit: Ecology How does succession lead to changes in communities
Unit: Ecology How does succession lead to changes in communities? Ecological Succession –the natural replacement of one community with another until a climax stage is reached.

2. Types of succession: 1. Primary Succession
Life starts from scratch
Ex. Volcanic eruptions and drop in sea levels cause new land to form
Always starts with rock (new or old)

3. 2. Secondary succession Life starts over again
Ecosystem already exists and is disturbed
Starts with soil there already
Ex. Fire, natural disaster or human action
Migration - populations move in or out of an area
human actions destroy an existing habitat

4. Order of Succession
A community starts with the pioneer species-the first species that lives in the area.
Examples: Bacteria and Lichen(fungus and bacteria or algae) and mosses

5. Order of Succession
2. Next come the grasses, small plants. The animals that would inhabit(live in) the area would be insects, small rodents

6. Order of Succession
3. Next come the small shrubs. The animals that would inhabit the area would be small animals, rodents, rabbits, snakes, fox

7. Order of Succession
4. Next come the small trees(pines, spruces). The animals that would inhabit the area would be deer, coyote, wolves

8. Order of succession
5. Last come the large trees(maple, oak). The animals that would inhabit the area would be all animals, lions, tigers and bears, OH MY!!

9. Process of succession: How does succession happen?
The above organisms live, some will die, and decomposers will break them down to return nutrients to the soil, which makes the soil richer. This changes the environment to a better environment for different species life. When succession slows down, a diverse, stable and mature community develops. This is called the climax community.