Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession

Changes in an Ecosystem

• A species is a number of the same
  type of reproducing individuals.

• A population is a group of the same
  species at the same time in the same place.

• Multiple species and their interactions
  make up a community

• Multiple communities and their interactions
  make up ecosystems when you
  include the abiotic factors.

Match

Match the following

• Species

• Population

• Community

• Ecosystem

Similar organisms capable or reproducing

Group of same species in the same time in the same place

Populations of different organisms in the same place

Populations of different organisms in the same place along with abiotic factors

• Similar organisms capable or reproducing

• Group of same species in the same time in the same place

• Populations of different organisms in the same place

• Populations of different organisms in the same place along with abiotic factors

Biotic Factors -living
organisms in an ecosystem.
Abiotic Factors -non-living
factors in an ecosystem

● Plant communities vary with

location.

● A plant community may consist

only of grasses (prairie) or
types of cactus (desert).

● In a lake the plant community will

consist of different types of
aquatic plants.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are biotic?

• Grass

• Cricket

• Soil

• Temperature

• Hawk

The plant community is very important to the ecosystem, because it determines what other organisms can live there!

Ecological succession is the orderly process of change in the species composition or makeup in an ecological community over time.

Drag and Drop

Succession is a​

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​

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in a(n)​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

orderly

change

ecosystem

random

community

adaptation

Species

species

stasis

Primary Succession

Starts with bare rock

Primary succession describes the process of
colonization by plants of previously uninhabited
land.

Primary Succession

Primary
succession
occurs when
a new island
is formed, a
new lake is
formed or a
volcano
erupts

Mount St. Helems erupted in
1980 exposing bare rock.

Primary Succession

Primary succession is a very slow process,
because there is no soil.

Soil is formed from weathering ( breakdown
of the rock) and the mixing of organic
material from living organisms.

Drag and Drop

​

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is a characteristic of ​

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succession

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Bare rock

primary

Abundant soil

secondary

tertiary

Primary Succession

• The first organisms to

inhabit this new land are
called pioneer species.

• These species work to

create a more hospitable
environment for other
species.

• Pioneer species in

primary succession are
are lichens, mosses and
small annuals.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of Primary Succession? Select all that apply.

• A new mountain being formed from tectonic uplift

• A new volcanic island formed over a Pacific Ocean hotspot

• A volcano erupts exposing bare rock in the top of the volcano.

• A forest recovering from a wildfire

Primary Succession

• Once soil is formed

and plants begin to
grow, insects, small
birds and mammals
move into the area.

• The ecosystem can

now support a
variety of life.

​Bare rock

​Lichens, mosses and small annuals growing where soil has formed

Dropdown

The first plants into a new area are called​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

The type of plants in an ecosystem affects the__

• type of animals that can live there

• amount of rainfall

• local weather

• rock substrate

• amount of sunlight available

Secondary Succession

• This occurs when an existing ecosystem is

disturbed.

• Ex. land after a fire, flood or clearing

for agricultural lands.

• During this stage, the original ecosystem

is replaced by new species.

Secondary Succession

Secondary Succession

• Pioneer species include small annuals ( grasses and other small plants).

• Pioneer species are replaced by taller, bush /shrub sized plants

• Replaced by bush sized woody
  shrubs

• Replaced by small trees, then larger trees until a climax community is established.

Multiple Select

In which of the following scenarios would secondary succession occur? Select all that apply.

• A forest after a forest fire

• A newly formed volcanic island

• A farmer clears and plows a field

• A desert covered with cacti

Climax Community

This is the
end result of
the
succession
process is a
stable, mature
ecosystem.

Climax Community

• A stable group of plants and

animals -end result of succession

• Does not always mean big trees

–Grasses in prairies
–Cacti in deserts

Climax
Community

Multiple Choice

The top row of pictures represents ___

• primary succession

• secondary succession

• pioneer plants

• climax community

The Special Case of Ponds

• New lakes and springs can not support life because there are no algae or plants, thus no oxygen.

• Algae and plants provide oxygen for animals ( invertebrates and fish)

Aquatic Ecosystem

Water only> algae,small invertebrates>
larger plants, larger fish> siltation (filling with
soil and dead organic matter)>marsh>
grasses> climax community

The End