Ecological Succession

1
25
26
Ecological Succession
Ecological Succession
9/15/14
9/15/14

Application Ws Connection/Exit


Starter What is succession?
1. After wildfires, such as in the Bastrop, TX
area, would primary or secondary succession
occur? Why? 2. What will be first to grow back,
second, third, etc.? 3. What are humans doing to
help speed up the succession process? 4. How
might ecological succession change the diversity
of species in an area?
Practice Notes
2
Table of Contents
Date Lecture/ Activity/ Lab
Page 8/27 Syllabus /Notebook Guidelines 1-2 8/27
Periodic Table/ Formula 3-4 8/27
Tools/ Measurement 5-6 8/27
Lab Report/ Investigations 7-8 8/27
Restroom passes/Homework Log 9-10 8/28
Testing a hypothesis
11-12 8/29 Levels of Organization
13-14 9/02 Symbiotic
Relationships 15-16 9/03
Abiotic and Biotic Factors 17-18 9/4-5
Ecosystems Research and Poster 19-20 9/8
Flow of Energy
21-22 9/10-11 Food Web Poster
23-24 9/15 Ecological
Succession 25-26
3
Agenda

• 1. Starter
• 2. Notes
• 3. Activity
• 4. Exit

4
Changes in EcosystemsEcological Succession
5
What is Ecological Succession?

• Natural, gradual changes in the types of species
  that live in an area
• Can be primary or secondary
• The gradual replacement of one plant community by
  another through natural processes over time

6
Primary Succession

• Begins in a place without any soil
• Sides of volcanoes
• Landslides
• Flooding
• First, lichens that do not need soil to survive
  grow on rocks
• Next, mosses grow to hold newly made soil
• Known as PIONEER SPECIES

7
Pioneer Species
Low, growing moss plants trap moisture and
prevent soil erosion
Lichens break down rock to form soil.
8
Primary Succession

• Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of
  weather and erosion help break down rocks into
  smaller pieces
• When lichens die, they decompose, adding small
  amounts of organic matter to the rock to make
  soil

9
(No Transcript)
10
Primary Succession

• Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in
  the new soil

11
Primary Succession

• The simple plants die, adding more organic
  material (nutrients to the soil)
• The soil layer thickens, and grasses,
  wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over

12
Primary Succession

• These plants die, and they add more nutrients to
  the soil
• Shrubs and trees can survive now

13
Primary Succession

• Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to
  move into the area
• What was once bare rock, now supports a variety
  of life

14
Secondary Succession

• Begins in a place that already has soil and was
  once the home of living organisms
• Occurs faster and has different pioneer species
  than primary succession
• Example after forest fires

15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
Climax Community

• A stable group of plants and animals that is the
  end result of the succession process
• Does not always mean big trees
• Grasses in prairies
• Cacti in deserts

19
25
26
Ecological Succession
Ecological Succession
9/15/14
9/15/14

Application Ws Connection/Exit


Starter What is succession?
1. After wildfires, such as in the Bastrop, TX
area, would primary or secondary succession
occur? Why? 2. What will be first to grow back,
second, third, etc.? 3. What are humans doing to
help speed up the succession process? 4. How
might ecological succession change the diversity
of species in an area?
Practice Notes