Ecological Succession

1. Ecological Succession – process of gradual change from one community of organisms to anotherEx. Lakes~~ponds~~marshes~~swamps ~~dry areasEx. Rock~~mosses~~ grasses~~ trees

2. Take place in a predictable order and involve animals, plants and other organisms (and abiotic factors)

Primary Succession

3. Primary succession - Ecological succession that begins in a place that does not have soil - new community – pioneer community – first organisms that move into a new environment - sunlight, temperature and moisture affect what plants can live in a certain area (limiting factors) - usually hardy organism that can survive drought, extreme heat and cold and other harsh conditions - change conditions in their entireness – support new organisms to come

Changes inCommunities

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

4. Succession that takes place that already has soil and had living organisms is called secondary succession

- after forest fire, natural disasters

Changes inCommunities

Climax Communities5. Climax Communities – when a

community has reached the final stage of ecological succession

- species will remain the same as long as the ecosystem does not change too drastically

- Examples: forest of redwoods

Questions

1. What is ecological succession?

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

3. What kind of success will take place on an abandoned, unpaved country road? Why?