1. What is an Ecosystem?
Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.

2. Vocabulary
habitat – the place where a particular population of a species lives
population – a group of species
community – made up of the many different species that live together in a habitat
ecosystem – consists of a community and all the physical aspects of its habitat

3. abiotic factors – the physical aspects of a habitat; ex; soil, water, air
biotic factors – the organisms in a habitat; living organisms
biodiversity – a measure of the number of species living within an ecosystem; ecosystems contain diverse organisms

4. Ecosystems change through the process of Succession.
succession – the replacement of one type of community by another at a single location over a period of time
primary succession – succession that begins in an area that previously did not support life

5. pioneer species – the first organisms to live in a new habitat; usually small, fast growing plants
secondary succession – the process by which one community replaces another community that has been partially or totally destroyed

6. Environmental Disturbances:
fire
flood
crop
harvesting
logging
disease
drought
climax
pioneer species

7. Which diagram shows 1° succession?B.

8. Which diagram shows 2° succession?B.

9. What are the pioneer species in A and B?

10. Typical Stages of Succession
This chart represents a typical succession that is observed in New York
State.   The annual grasses represent the pioneer species or first organisms
in this succession.   The beech-maple forest would represent a typical
Northern New York climax community.   The climax community will last
hundreds or thousands of years unless disrupted. 
pioneer community
climax community