Ecosystem Review. Succession Succession= replacement of one type of community by another over time.

Ecosystem Review

Succession

Succession= replacement of one type of community by another over time.

Primary Succession

Primary Succession=community growing in an area where organisms have never lived.

Primary Succession starts with bare rock

Primary Succession

The Wetland succession that you saw at camp is an example of primary succession.

Jackson lake was formed by glaciers 12,000 years ago.

Lake -> Fen -> Bog -> Quaking Bog -> Forest

Secondary Succession

Secondary Succession= a community growing in an area affected by a disturbance.Examples of disturbances are fire, flood,

clearing land for farming or lumber.

Secondary Succession starts with soil

Secondary Succession

The Old Field succession you saw on the prairie walk is an example of secondary succession.

Old Field -> Hardwood Forest

Pioneer Species

Pioneer Species are the first organisms to live in an area.

Examples of Pioneer Species Old Field: Bunch Grass,

Milkweed, Queen Anne’s Lace

Wetland: Sphagnum Moss, Sedge, Pitcher Plant

Climax Species

Climax Species = well adapted species in a mature community

Examples of Climax Species: Old Field: Maple, Oak Wetlands: Maple, Oak

Duckweed Problem

Duckweed can grow so thick it blocks sunlight from reaching plants growing at the bottom of the lake.

These plants die and are decomposed by bacteria.

The bacteria use up oxygen in the water, which limits aquatic life in the lake.

Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity is the largest population an environment can support.

Example: When we were playing the food chain game, the carrying capacity was the greatest number individuals that were able to survive.

Limiting Factors

Limiting factors are the factors that control carrying capacity (they limit the population / community size).

Examples are: sunlight, water, food, shelter, space

Competition

Competition occurs when two or more individuals or populations try to use the same resource, such as food, water, shelter, space or sunlight.Happens within a population (Hawks in Food

Chain Game)Happens between populations (Duckweed

and submergent plants)