1. Ecological Succession

2. “How might the island eventually support life?”
Imagine an island just created by volcanic activity.
What would it look like?
What is the ground made out of?
Can plants grow on this island?
Discuss within your group
“How might the island eventually support life?”

3. 1. What is ecological succession? 2. What are the two major types
the “Student Guide” on ecological succession and then answer the following questions in complete sentences in your biology notebook.
1. What is ecological succession?
2. What are the two major types
of ecological succession?
3.What is a “pioneer species?” Give an example.
4.What type of succession is occurring since the 2011 Texas wildfires? Explain.

4. The Bastrop fire in 2011 was the costliest and most destructive fire in the history of Texas. The devastating fire scorched 32,400 acres of land, consuming four-story tall pines, snakes, wildflowers, and thousands of other plant and animal species.

5. What final ecological stage will exist in Bastrop County after many years of succession?

6. Even though this fire caused mass destruction, it gave ecologists an opportunity to study succession in action. Foresters in the area state that the Lost Pines forest in Bastrop County will eventually regenerate, but this process will be slow. In other words, the process of succession will not be complete within the lifetime of the people who live there. Already new grasses have emerged, along with small wildflowers. Insects are back on the scene for pollination. The climax community is many years away, but the process of succession is moving forward.

7. a) Can reach a climax community
b) Forms on exposed rock
c) No soil
d) Organisms are currently there
e) Pioneer species will emerge
f) No previous living organisms living there
g) Most common type Ecological Succession
h) Occurs after volcanic eruptions
i) Occurs after a hurricane
j) Occurs with glaciers
k) Occurs after a wildfire
l) Gradual change in the environment
Primary Both Secondary
Succession Succession
In your notebook, create a Venn diagram. Use the descriptors on the right to compare and contrast primary and secondary succession:

8. Can reach a climax
community
b) Forms on exposed rock
c) No soil
d) Organisms are currently
there
Pioneer species will
emerge
No previous living
organisms living there
g) Most common type
Ecological Succession
Occurs after volcanic
eruptions
i) Occurs after a hurricane
j) Occurs with glaciers
k) Occurs after a wildfire
Gradual change in the
environment

9. Primary Succession Secondary Succession
b) Forms on
exposed
rock
c) No soil
f) No previous
living organisms
living there
h) Occurs after
volcanic
eruptions
j) Occurs with
glaciers
d) Organisms
are currently
there
g) Most common
type
i) Occurs after a
hurricane
k) Occurs after
a wildfire
a) Can reach
a climax
community
e) Pioneer species
will emerge
l) Gradual
change

10. Break into 6 equal lab groups
Lab Table 1
Lab Table 6
Lab Table 5
Lab Table 2
Lab Table 3
Lab Table 4

11. You will have 5 minutes at each station to complete the activity.
Each station has a Student Reference Sheet describing one example of Ecological Succession and a set of questions or procedures you need to follow.
Complete the questions/procedures in your biology notebook using complete sentences and detailed drawing/graphics
You will have 5 minutes at each station to complete the activity.

12. Succession Succession is Very Predictable
It is the natural changes and species replacement that takes place in the communities of an ecosystem.
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Succession occurs in stages with different species of plants and animals at each stage because the conditions of that
stage are suitable for
these organisms
but not others
Stage 4
Stage 3
Stage 2
Stage 1

13. Stable mature community.
Succession
Climax Community
Stable mature community.
Primary Succession takes place on land where there are no previous living organisms
As soil builds, seeds carried by wind or water allow bushes and grass to grow.
New soil makes it possible for plants (weeds and ferns) and insects to move into the community.
Pioneer Species such as lichens break down barren rock into useable soil.

14. severely damaged in some way
Succession
Secondary Succession
is the sequence
of changes
that take
place after
an existing
community is
severely damaged in some way

15. Succession In a fresh water pond
Deep fresh water, no rooted plants because of lack of light in deep water.
Sediments get carried into the pond allowing rooted submerged and floating plants to start growing.
Sedimentation continues, and reeds and grasses develop around the edge of the pond trapping more sediments.
A marsh community builds up around the pond. Reeds take over more of the pond as more silt builds up.
As soils around the edge begin to dry, tree species such as willows begin to grow

16. What would you expect to happen if the lake went completely dry?
Succession
In a fresh
water pond
What would you expect to happen if the lake went completely dry?

17. Succession Primary Succession
Volcano erupting in the ocean creating a new island. Primary or Secondary?
Primary Succession

18. Succession Secondary Succession
Fires near Possum Kingdom lake. Primary or Secondary ?
Secondary Succession

19. Succession Primary Succession
Path behind a glacier. Primary or Secondary?
Primary Succession

20. Answer the following Questions?
Succession
Answer the following Questions?
If you hiked through a patch of land that contained a pine forest into an area that contained only ferns, shrubs, and grasses, would you be moving from an younger to an older community or an older to a younger community?
OLDER YOUNGER

21. Answer the following Questions?
Succession
Answer the following Questions?
Which community would support the greatest number and diversity of organisms the pioneer community, one of the intermediate communities or the climax community? Be ready to explain your answer.
The climax community is very stable due to the number and diversity of the organisms that live there.

22. Weeds  Grass  Small Shrubs  Hardwood Forest
Succession
What type of succession would take place if all the water from the pond evaporated and the pond went dry?
Secondary Succession
Weeds  Grass  Small Shrubs  Hardwood Forest