Ecological Succession

Monday 2/17/25 Do Now
Answer Only

1. Compare the two food webs. Describe the biodiversity and

sustainability of each food web

2. Identify 2 food chains for each food web

Homework: Missing

work

Materials:

1. Notebook
2. Planner
3. Pencil

Weekly Agenda

• Monday – Succession
• Tuesday – Math 8 Mock
• Wednesday – Succession
• Thursday – Mock Data Review
• Friday – No school

Ecological Succession

Who do you think has the best idea?

Ecological Succession

• Natural, slow changes in the types of species that live in an area

• 2 types

• Primary – brand new rocks
• Secondary – after a natural disaster or disturbance

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

Primary Succession

• Begins in a place without any soil

• Sides of volcanoes
• Bare rock
• After a glacier moves

• First lichens (fungi-algae) that do not need soil to survive, grow on

rocks

• Next, mosses grow to hold newly made soil
• Known as a pioneer species

Pioneer Species

Lichens break down rock to form soil.
Low, growing moss plants trap

moisture and prevent soil erosion

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

nutrients

Primary Succession

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

Primary Succession

• The simple plants die, adding more nutrients to the soil
• The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants

begin to take over

Primary Succession

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

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, this is the

climax community

• BIODIVERSITY

Primary Succession

Effects of Primary Succession on Ecosystems

• As hundreds and thousands of years go on the environment
starts to support different and
more complex species

• Diversity of species and

population size of those
species increases as time goes
on.

Secondary Succession

• Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living

organisms

• Occurs faster than primary succession
• Has different pioneer species
• Example: after forest fires

Secondary Succession

• Since the soil is left over from the disturbance any seeds and roots

start growing

• Grasses are the pioneer species and lead to shrubs and taller plants,

and eventually leading to trees

Effects of Secondary Succession on Ecosystems

• As decades to hundreds of years go on the environment becomes

strong enough for populations of native species to slowly return

Check for Understanding

1. What is ecological succession?

2. How might ecological succession increase biodiversity?

3. What are pioneer species?

Check for Understanding

1. What is ecological succession?

The process of an ecosystem naturally changing

2. How might ecological succession increase biodiversity?

Ecological succession changes the ecosystem so more plants and
animals live together

3. What are pioneer species?

The first plants that start ecological succession; in primary its lichens
and in secondary its roots and seeds left over

4. What is the main difference between primary and secondary
succession?

5. How long does each process take?

6. Why does biodiversity happen quicker with secondary succession
than with primary?

4. What is the main difference between primary and secondary
succession?

Primary starts on brand new rock (no soil), secondary starts after
a disaster or disturbance (already has soil)

5. How long does each process take?

Primary takes 100s to 1000s of years

Secondary takes 50 to 100s of years

6. Why does biodiversity happen quicker with secondary succession
than with primary?

Secondary succession already had soil with roots and seeds.

Monday Activities

​Ecological Succession: The gradual process of change and replacement of plant and animal communities in an ecosystem over time.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

​Primary Succession: Succession that begins in a lifeless area with no soil, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

​Secondary Succession: Succession that occurs in areas where an ecosystem previously existed but was disturbed, leaving soil intact.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

​Pioneer Species: The first species to colonize a barren or disturbed area, initiating the ecological succession process.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

Intermediate Species: Plant and animal species that appear after pioneer species and before a climax community, aiding in ecosystem development.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

Climax Community: A stable and mature ecosystem that has reached the final stage of succession, with little change in species composition.

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

Ecological Disturbance: A temporary change in the environment that causes significant disruption to an ecosystem, such as a wildfire, flood, or human activity

​

​Define the Vocabulary Terms

What type of succession does the diagram show? Explain your answer.
The diagram shows..... because....

​

Questions

What type of succession does the diagram show? Explain your answer.
This diagram shows primary succession because there is no soil (only bare rock) in the area in the beginning.

​

Questions

What is the role of the pioneer species?
The role of the pioneer species is...

​

Questions

What is the role of the pioneer species?
The role of the pioneer species is... to stabilize the environment, enriching the soil, and creating conditions that allow other species to establish and thrive.

​

Questions

Describe what is occurring in each step of succession shown on this diagram.

​

Questions

Describe what is occurring in each step of succession shown on this diagram.
1. A lifeless area, such as bare, no soil or organisms.
2. Pioneer species (lichens or moss) break down rock and form soil.
3. Organic matter creates soil for small plants and grasses
4. Bushes & small trees stabilize soil and add nutrients
5. Established trees make up a mature and stable climax community.

​

Questions

Multiple Choice

Which takes longer, primary or secondary succession?

• Primary Succession

• Secondary Succession

Multiple Choice

What are the species called that appear first during primary succession?

• Pioneer Species

• New Species

• Alpha Species

• Mature Species

Multiple Choice

True or false: humans can be the cause of secondary succession

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

After a volcano destroys the land, ________________ succession takes place.

• Secondary

• Primary

• Tertiary

• Important

Multiple Choice

A pattern of change after existing ecosystem is destroyed, such as clearing for farming.

• Evolution

• Secondary Succession

• Primary Succession

Multiple Choice

A new island is formed after a volcano erupts.

What is the order that things would grow?

• Tree, grass, moss

• Lichen, Grass, Shrub, Tree

• Lichen, Shrub, Moss, Tree

• Shrub, grass, moss, tree

Multiple Choice

What type of organism would typically grow on bare rock?

• Moss and lichen

• Grass

• Oak trees

• Shrubs

Multiple Choice

Primary succession occurs in an area that has:

• soil

• no soil

• some soil

• none of these

Monday Exit Ticket

• What is the role of pioneer species in primary succession?

• What is the main difference between primary and secondary

succession?