Project: Succession

Luis FloresAP Biology

Expected changes in biodiversity as the stages of succession progress.

• As the stages of succession progress, some populations will facilitate biodiversity by developing conditions which are more suitable for other species. On the contrary some populations inhibit biodiversity by developing conditions which are less suitable for other species

• As the producer diversity increases, the consumer diversity will also increase.

Three changes in abiotic conditions over time that lead to the succession

• Three changes which would over time lead to succession are increase in soil quality, increase in water retained in soil, and a decrease in light availability.

• An increase in soil quality would be caused by the gaining of organic matter. This would lead to succession by providing more nutrients to promote plant growth.

• An increase in water retained in soil would be caused by increased shading which would reduce the evaporation of water from the soil. This would lead to succession by making more water available for the plants.

• A decrease in light availability would be caused by more shading. This would lead to succession by the increased shading favoring a vast of shade-tolerant species.

Discuss the immediate and long term effects on ecosystem succession for each Disturbance

• Disturbance #1: A volcano erupts, covering a 10 square kilometer portion of a mature forest with lava.

• This is an example of primary succession. A volcano eruption would cause no soil to be present at all. The long term effect of this would lead to the requirement of lava being degraded by weathering to form soil.

Disturbance cont.• Disturbance #2: A 10 square kilometer portion of

a mature forest is clear cut.• This is an example of secondary succession. The

long term effect of this would lead to the loss of plant life such as tress may lead to erosion and soil loss.

Identify two biotic and two abiotic factors and discuss how each could influence the pattern of ecological succession.

• One biotic factor which could influence the pattern of ecological succession is the logistic growth of a species that feeds off of the vegetation growing.

• Another biotic which could influence the pattern of ecological succession is competition amongst each species.

Pattern of ecological succession cont.• One biotic factor which would influence the

pattern of ecological succession is the temperature. A fluctuation of temperature may lead to the down fall of some species due to the inability to adapt.

• Another biotic factor which would influence the pattern of ecological succession is rainfall. An increase in rainfall may lead to the downfall of various species caused by drown.

Sources• USGS. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (February 2,

1999). From Lava Flow To Forest: Primary Succession. Retrieved from http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/1999/99_01_21.html

• Secondary Succession. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/successn/second.htm

• Ecosystems and Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://regentsprep.org/regents/biology/2011%20Web%20Pages/Ecology-%20Ecosystems-Communities%20page.htm