Ecological SuccessionEcological Succession

SuccessionSuccession

• Definition: The regular progression of species replacement in a changing ecosystem

• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm

Types of SuccessionTypes of Succession

• Primary Succession

• Takes place in areas that have not supported communities before or no life exists anymore

• Secondary Succession

• Takes place in an area that supported communities instead of barren land

Types of Primary SuccessionTypes of Primary Succession

• Bare Rock• Lava Flows• Sand Dunes• Lakes

• http://www.hawaiipictures.com/pictures/volcano_lava.html

Types of Secondary SuccessionTypes of Secondary Succession

• Usually occurs after a disturbance or natural disaster

• EX: fire

• landslides

• floods

• wind

• farming

• Cutting your lawn• http://www.sover.net/~kenandeb/fire/hotshot.html

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

• First species to show up in the community is called the Pioneer Species

Lichens and Moss

Native Prairie Grass

SuccessionSuccession

• Each intermediate community that appears after the pioneer species is called a Seral Community.

• Each seral community alters the physical factors of the area

SuccessionSuccession

• The last community to show up in an area is called the Climax Community.

• This community is stable and permanent. A state of homeostasis has been met. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.h

tm

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

Time

Small herbsand shrubs

Heath mat

Jack pine,black spruce,

and aspen

Balsam fir,paper birch, and

white spruceclimax community

Exposedrocks

Lichensand mosses

Fig. 8.15, p. 188

Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession

Time

Annualweeds

Perennialweeds and

grasses

ShrubsYoung pine forest

Mature oak-hickory forest

Fig. 8.16, p. 189

Succession and WildlifeSuccession and Wildlife

Early SuccessionalSpecies

RabbitQuailRingneck pheasantDoveBobolinkPocket gopher

MidsuccessionalSpecies

ElkMooseDeerRuffled grouseSnowshoe hareBluebird

Late SuccessionalSpecies

TurkeyMartinHammond’sFlycatcherGray squirrel

WildernessSpecies

Grizzly bearWolfCaribouBighorn sheepCalifornia condorGreat horned owl

Ecological successionEcological succession

Fig. 8.17, p. 190

Lakes and PondsLakes and Ponds

• Process of adding nutrients to a water ecosystem is called Eutrophication.

Oligotrophic LakeOligotrophic Lake

• Lake that does not have a lot of nutrients in it.

• Characteristics:• Cold• Clear water• Support few Species• Not much biomass• http://www.satirewire.com/news/july02/viagra.shtml

Eutrophic lakeEutrophic lake

• Lake that has a lot of nutrients in it

• Characteristics:• Warm• “Dirty” or “Cloudy”• Supports many species• Lots of Biomass

© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Fig 10.7 Diagram of bog Fig 10.7 Diagram of bog succession.succession.

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

• Krakatoa Story

Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession

• Maywood Example

The EndThe End