1. Ecological Succession = changes in ecology
SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
Ecological Succession = changes in ecology
Primary Succession: Succession in areas where no ecosystem has EVER existed before.
Examples: where a 1) glacier recedes or a ) new volcanic island forms
3) Low water exposes new soil

2. SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
rock -> lichen -> moss -> grass -> shrub -> trees -> oak hickory forest
Primary Succession

3. Examples, after forest fires or hurricanes
SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
Secondary Succession: occurs on a surface where an ecosystem previously existed.
Examples, after forest fires or hurricanes

4. Ecological Succession
SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
Ecological Succession

5. SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
Secondary Succession
…after Yellowstone fires

6. SEV3.b-c / SB4.c.
A pioneer species first to colonize an uninhabited area = starts an ecological cycle (lichen and mosses)
A climax community is the final, stable community in equilibrium with the environment. (mature oak forest)
A keystone species has an extremely important niche in the ecosystem (sea otter)

7. Ecological Succession Lab
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
Ecological Succession Lab
There are five groups of organisms
All groups start with 0 points
Record your points along with the number of years that have passed between “events”
Starting time =
0 years

8. Title: Ecological Succession Lab
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
Title: Ecological Succession Lab
Purpose: to relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems
Copy down the succession timeline:
5 yrs
10 yrs
100 yrs
105 yrs
110 yrs
155 yrs
165 yrs
175 yrs
205 yrs
305 yrs
End
50 yrs
Start
0 yrs

9. Oaks and maples – take away all points Insects – take away all points
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
A glacier edges through the area scraping down to bare rock. (primary succession)
Oaks and maples – take away all points
Insects – take away all points
Pines – take away all points
Lichens – take away all points
Grasses – take away all points
Mammals – take away all points

10. 5 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
5 years after a glacier recedes:
Oaks and maples – none
Insects – add 5
Pines – none
Lichens – add 30 (pioneer species)
Grasses – add 5
Mammals – none

11. 10 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – none
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
10 years after a glacier recedes:
Oaks and maples – none
Insects – add 10
Pines – add 5
Lichens – take away 10
Grasses – add 20
Mammals – add 5

12. 50 years after a glacier recedes: Oaks and maples – add 10
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
50 years after a glacier recedes:
Oaks and maples – add 10
Insects – stay the same
Pines – add 40
Lichens – take away 5
Grasses – take away 5
Mammals – add 5

13. 100 years have passed (climax community). Oaks and maples add 25.
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
100 years have passed (climax community).
Oaks and maples add 25.
Insects add 13
Pines take away 25
Lichens take away 5
Grasses take away 10
Mammals add 20
climax community 

14. Oaks and maples take away 25 Insects take away 10 Pines take away 10
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
After 105 yrs lightning strikes and starts a fire (secondary succession)
Oaks and maples take away 25
Insects take away 10
Pines take away 10
Lichens take away 9
Grasses take away 5
Mammals take away 15

15. 5 years after a forest fire: Oaks and maples take away 5 points
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
5 years after a forest fire:
Oaks and maples take away 5 points
Insects add 5
Pines add 40
Lichens add 10
Grasses add 15
Mammals add 2

16. 50 years after a forest fire Oaks and maples – add 20 Insects – add 15
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
50 years after a forest fire
Oaks and maples – add 20
Insects – add 15
Pines – take away 5
Lichens – add 2
Grasses – add 5
Mammals – add 10

17. Oaks and maples – take away 15 Insects – take away points 10
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
A 60 years after forest fire a hurricane destroys much of the forest (secondary succession)
Oaks and maples – take away 15
Insects – take away points 10
Pines – take away points 35
Lichens – take away 9
Grasses – take away 15
Mammals – take away 12

18. 10 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples take away 2 points
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
10 years after the hurricane
Oaks and maples take away 2 points
Insects add 10
Pines add 10
Lichens add 1
Grasses add 15
Mammals add 5

19. 40 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 17 Insects add 5
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
40 years after the hurricane
Oaks and maples add 17
Insects add 5
Pines add 10
Lichens add 2
Grasses take away 5
Mammals add 10

20. 140 years after the hurricane Oaks and maples add 25 Insects add 5
SEV3.b-c. / SB4.c
140 years after the hurricane
Oaks and maples add 25
Insects add 5
Pines take away 25
Lichens add 3
Grasses take away 15
Mammals add 5
Climax Community 