1. Ecological Succession
Interactions
Ecological Succession
Have students discuss what they think succession means.
Relate to succession of power.
Combine succession with ecological.

2. Succession Gradual, ordered process of change
Growth or re-growth of a community of species (an ecosystem)
We focus on plant succession, but species includes animals.
Stages.
Picture 1: 1988 after Mt St Hellen’s Erupted in 1980
Picture 2: 2001

3. Succession Start with nothing, not even soil.
Takes hundreds to thousands of years for full process to complete
Will play a game and watch a video that describes more about how long this process takes.

4. Primary Succession
Growth of a community in an area where life had not been maintained before
Lifeless area does not have “soil”
Area dominated by quick growing pioneer plants
Examples:
Have students list examples and write them down.

5. Primary Succession Students can write down these examples.
Top Left: Volcano lava, island formation
Top Right: Rocky area
Bottom Left:: Desert Clay
Bottom Right: Sand dunes

6. Secondary Succession
Growth of a community in an area where life is already established
Soil left in tact; small plants, etc may be left
Usually after disturbance- could be natural or human-caused
Examples:
Have students list and write down examples.

7. Secondary Succession Top Left: Brush Fire Top Right: Mowing the Lawn
Bottom Left: Deforestation
Bottom Right: Gallatin 2006 Tornado

8. The Process of Succession
Primary Succession
Lichens, Bacteria, Fungus
Annual Plants, Mosses, Ferns, Weeds
Secondary Succession
Perennial Plants, Grasses
Shrubs, Bushes, Non-woody short plants
Have students decide where primary and secondary succession can begin.
Have students decide which group would be pioneer plants.
Discuss climax community as peek of ecosystem; balance is reached.
Go through what animals could live and not live at each stage of succession.
Pines, Other Fast Growing Trees
Hardy Trees (Oaks, Redwoods)
Climax Community

9. Climax Community
Final community
Can take years to reach

10. Plowing:
Have students tell what type of succession and what stage would come back first.

11. Glacier Retreat:
Have students decide what type of succession; discuss current growth and what would be next.