Ecological Succesion
Ecologial Succesion:
*Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary.
*The gradual replacement of one plant community by another through natural processes over time.
*Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary.
*The gradual replacement of one plant community by another through natural processes over time.
Primary Succession:
*Biegins in a place without soil
-Sides of volcanoes
-Landslides
-Flooding
*Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive (Pioneer Species).
*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 organic matter to the rock to make soil.
Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil.
*The simple plants die, adding more organic material
* The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over.
*Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move in.
* What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life.
*Biegins in a place without soil
-Sides of volcanoes
-Landslides
-Flooding
*Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive (Pioneer Species).
*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 organic matter to the rock to make soil.
Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil.
*The simple plants die, adding more organic material
* The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over.
*Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move in.
* What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life.
Lichens:
*Symbiotic relationship between algea and fungus
*The algal or cyanobacterial cells are photosynthetic, and as in plants they reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars to feed both symbionts.
*The fungus provides support, water and minerals from the substrate for the algae.
*Symbiotic relationship between algea and fungus
*The algal or cyanobacterial cells are photosynthetic, and as in plants they reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars to feed both symbionts.
*The fungus provides support, water and minerals from the substrate for the algae.
Lichens- Pioneer Species:
*Lichens help to break down hard substrate, providing nutrients to the soil.
* When lichens die, they further help to create a nutrient rich soil.
* Lichens are also called “indicator species”- they are sensitive to changes in environment.
*Lichens help to break down hard substrate, providing nutrients to the soil.
* When lichens die, they further help to create a nutrient rich soil.
* Lichens are also called “indicator species”- they are sensitive to changes in environment.
Secondary Succession:
*Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms.
* Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession.
*Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms.
* Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession.
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
* 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