This document discusses ecological succession, which is the process of change in an ecosystem over time as the environment changes. There are two types of succession: primary and secondary. Primary succession occurs on new land with no soil, beginning with pioneers like mosses and lichens that break down rock to form soil and allow more complex plants and trees to eventually form a climax community. Secondary succession occurs more quickly on previously inhabited land that has been disturbed, like abandoned farmland, as soil is already present. Succession is always occurring as environments constantly change due to factors like fires, floods, or other disturbances.

1. Ecological Succession
Ch. 5 part 3

2. Big Idea #4
Succession is the process of change in
the structure of the environment and the
composition of species in an ecosystem
as the environment changes

3. Where do forests come from?
They come about gradually through a
process called ecological succession

4. 2 types
Type 1: primary succession
Brand new land or water

5. Primary succession
No soil
First species to
come are called
pioneers
 Mosses and lichen
 Can grow on bare
rock
 As they grow they
break apart the rock
and form soil

6. Primary succession
After a loooong time, there will be
enough soil to support small plants like
weeds, grasses, and small shrubs
 Mosses and lichens die off

7. Primary succession
Finally enough soil accumulates to
support trees
And you get a climax community

9. Using the data, explain how the characteristics of the soil change
during primary succession and why those changes support more
complex communities

10. 2 types
Type 2: secondary succession
Old land that has been wiped out
somehow
Examples:
Abandoned
farmland
Burned forests
Polluted streams
Flooded land

11. Secondary Succession
The same thing
happens, but
much more
quickly since
there is already
a soil base

13. Succession
Animal species change through the
course of succession as well

14. Environmental Disturbance
Can be HUGE – Mt. St. Helens, Chernobyl
Can be TINY - a tree falling in the forest,
spraying for ants in your backyard

15. Succession is ALWAYS
happening
Because the environment is constantly
changing

16. The Succession Game
Playing Pieces
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
Water Hickory (Carya aquatica)
Yew Shrub (Podocarpus macrophylla)
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

17. Directions
 MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT SPECIES YOU ARE!
Take turns
Roll the die
When you land on a shaded square – draw a
card
 Every player does what the card says
If you land on the same space as another
player – DUEL
 Roll die
 highest roll moves forward 1 space
 Lower roll moves backward 1 space