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ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION- PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
HUMAN IMPACTS
FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK
Ecological Succession- Primary and Secondary
Ecological Succession - change that occurs in an ecosystem when one community replaces another as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors
Primary Succession: the establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have any topsoil; usually occurs very slowly in the beginning
Pioneer Stage: pioneer species begin to grow (weedy species like fast growing grasses and lichens) once the die and decompose this creates soil; fungi can begin to grow; the third phase include grasses and perennial plants
Intermediate Stage: grasses, shrubs, and pines begin to grow as the soil composition changes and becomes more plentiful, animals begin to arrive
Mature Community: Shade tolerant trees such as oak and hickory begin to take over the community; this stage is relatively balanced and has a stable ecological structure and species composition
Secondary Succession: orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of organisms has been removed but the soil has remained intact; usually occurs faster than primary succession (generally occurs after a disturbance)
Climax Community: the stable, mature community that results when there is little change in the composition of species; due to climate change, communities may never reach this state