Ecological Succession A Change in the Ecological Community Over Time
Ecological Succession is The observed process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. A new ecological community begins with pioneering plants and animals and develops through increasing complexity until it becomes stable or self-perpetuating as a climax community. Succession occurs in all natural environments through natural and man-made causes. The nature of the success is differentiated as: Primary and Secondary
There are two main types of Ecological Succession Primary Succession: The process of creating life in an area where no life previously existed. Secondary Succession: The process of restabilization that follows a disturbance in an area where life has formed an ecosystem.
Examples of Succession Primary Secondary
Primary Succession The development of an ecosystem in an area that has never had a community living within it. Example: a new lava or rock from a volcano that makes a new island.
Primary Succession M-DCC / PCB 2340C 6 6/5/03
Secondary Succession In habitats where communities were entirely or partially destroyed by some kind of damaging event. When an existing community has been cleared by a disturbance such as a fire, tornado, etc...and the soil remains intact, the area begins to return to its natural community. Because these habitats previously supported life, secondary succession, unlike primary succession, begins on substrates that already bear soil. Takes place five to ten times faster than primary succession.
The Circle of Life in Secondary Succession
Why Does Ecological Succession Occur? Because it is the process of life for plants, soil and other living organisms. Because of natural or man-made disasters/events. Because organisms alter soil structure, chemistry, and microclimates, the species composition of ecological communities constantly changes over time. Succession will continue until the environment reaches it s final stage the Climax Community.
The Climax Community A mature, stable community that is the final stage of ecological succession. In an ecosystem with a climax community, the conditions continue to be suitable for all the members of the community. Any particular region has its own set of climax species, which are the plants that are best adapted for the area and will persist after succession has finished (or until another disturbance clears the area).
These are Climax Communities
Can Communities Thrive in Different Places? Two main physical factors determine the nature of the community that develops in an area: 1. temperature 2. amount of rainfall. If we place temperature on a graph s x axis from hot, moderate, to cold, and the the amount of rainfall along the y axis from 0-10, 10-20,and 20-30+ nches, the various types of ecosystems will fit into the graph based on the conditions that they require.
A summary of changes that occur during succession: Pioneer species colonize a bare or disturbed site (Soil building if primary succession). Changes in the physical environment occur (e.g., light, moisture). New species of plants displace existing plants because their seedlings are better able to become established in the changed environment. Newly arriving species alter the physical conditions, often in ways that enable other species to become established. Animals come in with or after the plants they need to survive. Eventually a climax community that is more or less stable will become established and have the ability to reproduce itself. Disturbances will start the process of succession again.
Threats to Succession The grasses that move in as pioneer species are often thought of as weeds. The subsequent growth of shrubs are considered undesirable "brush".
Threats to Succession Without these intermediate stages, the disturbed habitat cannot return to a natural forest. The fragility and stability of the ecological community are dependent upon several factors. For example, in temperate forests, if the shrubs are not allowed to grow, insect pests begin to feed on young trees instead. This has happened in many places where trees are replanted after an area is clear-cut. Large quantities of pesticides are then brought in, polluting the soil and water and altering the natural ecosystem even further.
How Do Humans Affect Ecological Succession? Clearing the land for the garden and preparing the soil for planting represents a major external event that radically restructures and disrupts a previously stabilized ecosystem. The disturbed ecosystem will immediately begin a process of ecological succession. Plant species that adapt to the sunny conditions and the broken soil will rapidly invade the site and will become quickly and densely established. These invading plants are what we call weeds in which we consider a nuisance or invaders.
How Do Humans Affect Ecological Succession? A gardener's only course of action is to spend a great deal of time and energy weeding the garden or using chemicals to infringe upon the weeds and the ecosystem around it. The farmers and gardeners who are growing our foods incur an immense cost in terms of time, fuel, herbicides and pesticides that humans pay every growing season because of the force of ecological succession.
Does Ecological Succession Ever Stop? We must recognize that any ecosystem, no matter how inherently stable and persistent, could be subject to massive external disruptive forces (like fires and storms) that could re-set and re-trigger the successional process. As long as these random and potentially catastrophic events are possible, it is not absolutely accurate to say that succession has stopped.
Does Ecological Succession Ever Stop? Also, over long periods of time ( geological time ) the climate conditions and other fundamental aspects of an ecosystem change; therefore, no ecosystem, then, has existed or will exist unchanged or unchanging over a geological time scale.