Communities have patterns of succession, stratification, and zonation over time. Succession involves changes in species composition from colonizers to a climax community. Stratification creates vertical layers from canopy to forest floor. Zonation forms bands of organisms along environmental gradients of factors like temperature, water, and tide.

1. Patterns in communities

2. Community Set of interacting populations at a particular time in a particular place

3. Characteristics Stable communities have high diversity A few species are dominant Always more producers than consumers

4. Patterns Succession Stratification Zonation

5. Succession Change in species composition over time Seres Sequence of stages of a community during succession Climax community Stable community where succession is no longer occuring

6. Primary Succession On an area that has had no previous life First colonisers usually lichen Dead lichen forms humus allowing mosses, then ferns and bracken to grow

7. Manuka grows Larger trees grow in shelter of manuka Climax community finally reached

8. Rangitoto – an example of primary succession

9. Secondary Succession When an existing community has been cleared Soil is intact Eventually returns to original state by gradual replacement First colonisers short living “weeds” Longer living species in later stages

10. Plants growing again after a fire has killed off existing bush

11. Stratification Vertical layering Canopy Sub-canopy Tree fern layer Shrub layer Forest floor Litter layer Topsoil layer Sub-soil layer Soil parent material

12. The Canopy

13. Tree Fern Layer

14. Shrub Layer

15. Emergents

16. Vines

17. Vines and Saprophytes

18. Zonation Bands of organisms form in relation to a gradient in a major environmental factor Temperature Water Tide

19. Zonation on Mountains

20. Zonation on a Rocky Shore

23. Zonation in Rock Pools

24. Hormosira (Neptunes Necklace)

26. Crabs

30. Sea Anemones