Lawrence R. Walker and his Primary Succession Studies Xuan Chen BIOL 7083 - Community Ecology Presentation http://kariecology.blogspot.com/2011/02/succession.html
Dec 15, 2015
Lawrence R. Walker and his Primary Succession Studies
Xuan Chen BIOL 7083 - Community Ecology Presentation
http://kariecology.blogspot.com/2011/02/succession.html
Contents
• Introduction of L. R. Walker
• His primary succession studies
• His other research
• His influence on community ecology studies
Character IntroPh.D., University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1985
Stanford University
University of Hawaii
University of Puerto Rico University of Nevada, professor of Department of Biological Science
(1) Succession in plant communities(2) Community responses to disturbance(3) Restoration
http://sols.unlv.edu/Walker/LR%20Walker.htm
Contents
• Introduction of L. R. Walker
• His primary succession studies
• His other research
• His influence on succession studies
Primary Succession Studies
Succession – directional change in community composition at a site, initiated by natural or anthropogenic disturbance, or the creation of a new site.
Copy from Dr. Kyle Harms’ slides
Disturbance (new habitat)
Early succession species
Later succession species
Facilitate InhibitNeutral
Stable ecosystem
Primary Succession Studies
Primary succession Secondary succession
Primary Succession Studies
Primary succession can be defined as directional changes in plant communities after severe disturbances that leave no soil layers intact, or the creation of a new site.
Methods
(1) Field observations and experiments (such as artificial fertilization, transplanting and sowing of seeds)
(2) Growth experiments under more controlled greenhouse conditions
(3) Lab analyses of plant and soil nutrients
Primary Succession Studies
• Primary succession: nitrogen limited
• Later, P (and/or other elements) but not nitrogen limited
Walker & Syers, 1976, Geoderma
Primary Succession Studies
River floodplains in Alaska
Volcanic substrates in HawaiiLandslides in Puerto Rico
Glacial moraines in Alaska
http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.htmlhttp://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photohttp://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska
Primary Succession Studies
River floodplains in Alaska
Volcanic substrates in HawaiiLandslides in Puerto Rico
Glacial moraines in Alaska
http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photohttp://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska
Stochastic events
Fluvial processes, timing, intensity, and scale of riverine disturbance
Life history traits
Seed rain
Stochastic events
Fluvial processes, timing, intensity, and scale of riverine disturbance
Life history traits
Seed rainGrowth rate
Life span
Nitrogen fixer
Dense litter layer Seeding germination and establishment
Snowshoe hare Seeding mortality
Thick stands Reduced light intensity
Root competition Seeding growth
Allelopathy
Primary succession: nitrogen limited, need nitrogen fixer
Inhibit
Primary Succession Studies
River floodplains in Alaska
Volcanic substrates in HawaiiLandslides in Puerto Rico
Glacial moraines in Alaska
http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.htmlhttp://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photohttp://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska
Inhibit
• Life history
• Species interaction
• Environmental factors
their relative importance changes through succession
Primary Succession Studies
River floodplains in Alaska
Volcanic substrates in HawaiiLandslides in Puerto Rico
Glacial moraines in Alaska
http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.htmlhttp://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photohttp://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska
Inhibit Complex
Upper zone: nearly complete removal of soil and vegetation
Lower zone: heterogeneous mixture of broken plants parts, and soil
Islands
Primary Succession Studies
River floodplains in Alaska
Volcanic substrates in HawaiiLandslides in Puerto Rico
Glacial moraines in Alaska
http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.htmlhttp://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photohttp://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska
Inhibit Complex
Scale
Myrica faya Myrica faya
Myrica faya Metrosideros polymorpha
germination Leaf litter
canopy
seedling root competition
nitrogen
Metrosideros polymorpha
severe
suitable
environmental severity
facilitate
compete facilitate
compete
Pioneer species Later species
Opportunities for studies of succession
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpamerica/5145807500/sizes/m/in/photostream/
We can imagine a study that investigates succession after invasion of a non-native as a result of climate change that might be used to suggest restoration measures to protect local biodiversity
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/biodiversity.htm http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/biodiversity.htm
Contents
• Introduction of L. R. Walker
• His primary succession studies
• His other research
• His influence on succession studies
succession Long term without disturbance Decline phase
significant reduction in ecosystem productivity and standing plant biomass
RestorationSuccession
Site amelioration
Development of community structure
Nutrient dynamics
Species life history traits
Species interactions
Modeling the transitions between successional stages and how those stages fit together into trajectories
(2) Restoration
Contents
• Introduction of L. R. Walker
• His primary succession studies
• His other research
• His influence on succession studies
References• Bellingham, P.J., Peltzer, D.A., Lawrence R. Walker, L. R. 2005. Contrasting impacts of a native and an invasive exotic shrub on flood-plain succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 16 (1): 135-142.
• Callaway, R.M. and L.R. Walker. 1997. Competition and facilitation: A synthetic approach to interactions in plant communities. Ecology 78:1958-1965.• • Chapin, F.S., Walker, L.R., Fastie, C.L., Sharman, L.C. 1994. Mechanisms of Primary Succession Following Deglaciation at Glacier Bay, Alaska. Ecological Monographs 64:149–175.• • Myster, R.W., Walker, L R. 1997. Plant successional pathways on Puerto Rican landslides. Journal of Tropical Ecology 13 (2): 165-173.
• Prach, K., Walker, L R. 2011. Four opportunities for studies of ecological succession. Trends in Ecological and Evolution 26 (3): 119-123.
• Shiels, A.B., Walker, L.R. 2003. Bird perches increase forest seeds on Puerto Rican landslides. Restoration Ecology 11: 1-9.
• Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R. 1989. Biological invasion by Myrica faya in Hawaii: Plant demography, nitrogen fixation, and ecosystem effects. Ecological Monographs 59:247- 265.
• Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R., Whiteaker, L.D. 1993. Nutrient Limitations to plant-growth during primary succession in Hawaii-volcanos National Park. Biogeochemistry 23 (3): 197-215.
• Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R., Whiteaker, L.D., Muellerdombois, D., Matson P.A. 1987. Biological invasion by Myrica faya alters ecosystem development in Hawaii. Science 238 (4282):802-804.
• Walker, L. R., Chapin, III. F. S. 1986. Physiological controls over seedling growth in primary succession on an Alaskan floodplain. Ecology 67: 1508 1523.
• Walker, L.R., del Moral, R.2009. Lessons from primary succession for restoration of severely damaged habitats. Applied Vegetation Science 12: 55-67.
• Walker, L.R., Bellingham, P.B., Peltzer, D.A. 2006. Plant characteristics are poor predictors of microsite colonization during the first two years of primary succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 17:397-406.
Walker, L.R., Clarkson, B.D., Silvester, W., Clarkson, B.R. 2003. Colonization dynamics and facilitative impacts of a nitrogen-fixing shrub in post-volcanic primary succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 14: 277-290.
Walker, L. R., Zasada, J. C., Chapin, III. F. S. 1986. The role of life history processes in primary succession on an Alaskan floodplain. Ecology 67: 1243 1253.
• Walker, L.R., Zimmerman, J.K., Lodge, D.J., Guzmán-Grajales, S. 1996. An altitudinal comparison of growth and species composition in hurricane-damaged forests in Puerto Rico. Journal of Ecology 84: 877-889.
Walker, L.R., Voltzow, J., Ackerman, J.D., Fernandez, D.S., Fetcher, N. 1992. Immediate impact of Hurricane Hugo on a Puerto Rican rain forest. Ecology 73:691-694.
Walker, L.R., Zarin, D., Fetcher, N., Myster, R., Johnson, A. 1996. Ecosystem development and plant succession on landslides in the Caribbean. Biotropica 28: 566-576.
• Wardle, D., Walker, L.R., Bardgett, R.D. 2004. Ecosystem properties and forest decline in contrasting long term chronosequences. Science 305:509-513.