1. Succession: change in species within an ecosystem as the conditions of the ecosystem change

2. Succession of a pond: 1. Bare bottom stage: also called phytoplankton stage -pond is new -bottom made of rock -very low in nutrients -algae and bacteria are pioneer species usually blown or washed in

3. Stage 2: Submerged plant stage: -Bottom filled in with humus and sediment. -Sunlight can reach the bottom -submerged plants rooted to bottom grow nicely -larger organisms move in such as fish, turtles, frogs, etc.

4. Stage 3: Emergent plant stage: -Bottom much more shallow -Floating plants block sunlight to bottom of pond and submerged plants die off -Plants begin growing out of the water -Pond becomes so shallow that the water level becomes very shallow -Fish begin to disappear

5. Stage 4: Marsh Stage -Pond completely filled in with grasses -Fish are gone -Shrubs begin to grow

6. -Sunlight does not reach bottom -Very little soil -Algae and phytoplankton grow and die, building up humus on bottom along with soil that was washed in