SuccessionSuccession

•SuccessionSuccession – is orderly, – is orderly, natural changes that take natural changes that take place in the community of an place in the community of an ecosystem.ecosystem.

Types of Succession:Types of Succession:• Primary successionPrimary succession – changes that – changes that

occur on soil that has never occur on soil that has never supported life.supported life.– Lava from volcanoes, glaciers retreatingLava from volcanoes, glaciers retreating

Types of Succession:Types of Succession:

• Secondary successionSecondary succession – changes – changes that occur on soil that has supported that occur on soil that has supported plant life (much faster than primary plant life (much faster than primary succession because soil is already succession because soil is already formed)formed)– Plants coming back after some Plants coming back after some

disturbance such as forest fire or land disturbance such as forest fire or land that has been abandonedthat has been abandoned

• Climax CommunityClimax Community – succession – succession eventually ends up in this stable, eventually ends up in this stable, mature community that undergoes mature community that undergoes little or no changeslittle or no changes– The new trees or plants coming up The new trees or plants coming up

under the old ones are of the same under the old ones are of the same species, old growth forestsspecies, old growth forests

• Pioneer OrganismsPioneer Organisms – first – first organisms to inhabit an ecosystemorganisms to inhabit an ecosystem– usually grasses or lichens on rockusually grasses or lichens on rock

View this video clipView this video clip

•http://vsx.onstreammedia.com/vsx/AFG/search/PBSPlayer?assetId=67319&ccstart=509966&pt=1

Answer on notes sheet:Answer on notes sheet:

• How does the tree falling create How does the tree falling create opportunity for secondary opportunity for secondary succession?succession?

• What would happen here if no trees What would happen here if no trees ever fell down?ever fell down?

Succession todaySuccession today

• Where is succession happening in TX Where is succession happening in TX today?today?

•http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/04/texas-wildfires/100050/

Mr. D’s backyard successionMr. D’s backyard successionwhat it started out likewhat it started out like

After clearingAfter clearing

After planting bermuda After planting bermuda grassgrass

One year later – April One year later – April 20122012

Recently Cleared & Recently Cleared & HerbicidedHerbicided

Annual grassesAnnual grasses

ShrubsShrubs

TreesTrees

Hackberry tree that grew Hackberry tree that grew from seed in about 5-7 from seed in about 5-7 yearsyears

Just some awesome pics of Just some awesome pics of what I’ve donewhat I’ve done

Halfway completeHalfway complete

Completed StepsCompleted Steps

Old fence = new flower boxOld fence = new flower box

Fire pitFire pit

Fire Pit CompleteFire Pit Complete

At nightAt night