Ecological Succession
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Transcript Ecological Succession
Ecological Succession
Chapter 2
Section 2
Bell Work
Imagine you have been
hired to oversee the
maintenance of a forest.
How would you evaluate
the health of the forest?
What actions would you
take to keep the forest
healthy?
What might be a threat to
the health of the forest?
Ecological Succession
In 1988 large
areas of
Yellowstone
Park burned to
the ground.
How do you
think the park
looked the
following
spring?
Ecological Succession
The “dead” forest
began to change
New plant growth
began
Succession
Succession
1. Gradual development
of a community of
organisms over time
Succession
A. Takes place in all
communities
B. Takes place over
time
Primary Succession
Primary Succession
A. Takes place after an ecosystem is
completely destroyed, including its soil
B. There is no soil in this area, usually just bare
rock
Example: volcanic eruption
Steps in Primary Succession
1. After an volcanic
eruption, lava covers
the land and hardens
into rock
Primary Succession
2.Lichens begin to form on rocks
A. Lichens-plant like organism that is a fungus
and algae
B. Acids from the lichens begin to break down
the rock
C. These pieces of broken rock and the
remains of dead lichens start forming soil
Pioneer species- first organisms to grow in a
succession
example-lichens
Primary Succession
3. After many years
A. The soil is deep enough for mosses to grow
B. Mosses replace lichens
C. Tiny organisms like insects live the in the
lichens and mosses
Their remains add to the soil
Primary Succession
4. Over time
Soil layer thickens
Moss is replaced by
ferns
Next
Growth of grasses and
wildflowers
Once the soil is deep
enough:
Shrubs and small
trees come into the
area
Primary Succession
5. After hundreds or
even thousand of
years
The soil may be deep
enough to support a
forest
The final stage of
succession is the
climax community
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Secondary Succession
Changes that takes place after an environment
is disrupted in some way (the soil must remain
intact)
Example-forest fire, hurricane, farm land left unused
Secondary Succession
1. fast growing
grasses and nonwoody plants appear
Secondary Succession
2. Larger shrubs move in
Secondary Succession
3. Fast growing trees
(such as pines) move
in
4. These are followed
by slower-growing
hardwood trees
Secondary Succession
5. As new plants take
root and grow,
animals begin moving
back in the
ecosystem
Succession ends with
a climax community
(when species have
adapted to the
average conditions in
that area)
Secondary Succession