How Ecosystems Change Naturally

What changes will you see?

Succession

• The normal, gradual changes that occur in the types of species that live in an area.

Primary Succession

• How will these areas (volcanic rock and glacial rock deposit) change?

• What will plants need to survive here?

Primary Succession

• Succession that begins in a place that previously had no soil or plants.

Pioneer Species

• First plants to inhabit an area.

• They often begin the soil building process by breaking down the rocks along with weathering and erosion.

Lichen• A common pioneer species, it produces

acid that helps weather the rock into soil.

• When it dies, it will also help fertilize the newly forming soil.

As soil forms, seeds are blown in or dropped by birds or other animals

Secondary Succession

• Succession that occurs where soil is already present.

Secondary succession occurs much faster than primary succession-Why?

Climax Community• A community of plants that is relatively

stable and undisturbed and has reached an end stage of succession. (ex-a forest)

Review

What type of succession will occur here?

• Surtsey, an island off the coast of Iceland. It was created in 1963 by a volcanic eruption.

Primary Succession

What will the first species to move in be called?

• Pioneer Species

What is a common pioneer species?

• Lichen (Like-ehn)

What type of succession will occur here?

• Secondary succession

What is the final stage of succession called?

• Climax Community