Ecological Succession Remember a community more than 1

Ecological Succession

Remember … a community… more than 1 population in same area at the same time.

Remember … a limiting factor… Any abiotic or biotic factor that limits the numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms Examples: sunlight, climate, temperature, water, nutrients, fire, soil chemistry, and space, and other living things.

Remember … biodiversity… The variety of organisms in a given area Ecosystems with high biodiversity -- more able to resist damage. severe weather human activities. Ecosystems with LOW biodiversity – not as healthy … don’t recover well

Range of tolerance An upper / lower limit of what an organism can survive.

Ecological Succession When abiotic/biotic factors change and …. . one community replaces another

Steps of Ecological Succession 1) Primary succession occurs on an area of newly exposed rock / sand / lava / any area that has no living (biotic) community PIONEER SPECIES 2) Secondary succession takes place where a community has been removed, e. g. , in a plowed field or a clear cutforest 3) Climax Community

Climax Community the terminal stage of an ecological succession sequence remains relatively unchanged (as long as biotic and abiotic factors remain stable)

Ecological Succession