1. Ecological Succession Notes (3.1)
State Standard
SB4C. Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems.

2. Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
Limiting Factors
Any biotic factor or abiotic factor that restricts the numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms is called a limiting factor.
Includes sunlight, climate, temperature, water, nutrients, fire, soil chemistry, and space, and other living things

4. Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
Range of Tolerance
An upper limit and lower limit that define the conditions in which an organism can survive
The ability of any organism to survive when subjected to abiotic factors or biotic factors is called tolerance.

5. Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
The change in an ecosystem that happens when one community replaces another as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors is ecological succession
There are two types of ecological succession—primary succession and secondary succession.

6. ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION - Primary
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION - Primary
The establishment of a community in an area of bare rock that does not have any soil is primary succession.

8. Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
ECOLOGIAL SUCCESSION - Secondary
The orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of organisms has been removed but the soil has remained intact is secondary succession.

10. Pond succession can take hundreds of years
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.1 Community Ecology
ECOLOGIAL SUCCESSION - Ponds
A pond is a relatively shallow hole where water collects & light penetrates to the bottom.
If left unattended, a pond will fill in with dirt & debris until it becomes land.
Pond succession can take hundreds of years

11. Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
ECOLOGIAL SUCCESSION - Ponds
As in all types of succession, pond succession happens in predictable steps:
Bare Bottom (algae/microorganisms)
Submerged Vegetation
Emerging Vegetation
Temporary Pond/Marsh
Terrestrial Ecosystem

12. Chapter 3

13. ECOLOGIAL SUCCESSION - Ponds
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
ECOLOGIAL SUCCESSION - Ponds