ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

ECOSYSTEMS: SUCCESSION

• VOCABULARY

• SUCCESSION

• PRIMARY SUCCESSION

• SECONDARY SUCCESSION

• PIONEER SPECIES

TERRESTRIAL SUCCESSION

SUCCESSION

STAGES OF SUCCESSION: SECONDARY

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new

populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones

• 1. Primary Succession – occurs in an area where there is no existing

communities and for some reason (s) a new community of organisms moved

into the area (the least diverse community, few plants and animals)

ECOLOGICAL PRIMARY SUCCESSION

Ecological Primary Succession

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new

populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones

• 2. Secondary Succession – occurs in an area where an existing community is

partially damaged (more diverse than primary succession; at this stage we have

the formation of “NICHES”; nutrient flow is slower; diverse group of soil N fixers

move in and help provide available soil N for next group of plants)

SECONDARY SUCCESSION: BP OIL SPILL IN GULF

SECONDARY SUCCESSION: AFTER FIRE

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new

populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones

• 3. Climax Community – a community that is stable and has a great

diversity of organisms (very diverse community of plants and animals; we

have a very diverse “NICHE” community of habitats; soil nutrients flow in

and out of the system)

Ecological Climax Succession (Southern Swamp)

Ecological Climax Succession (Northern Prairie)

AQUATIC SUCCESSION

Aquatic Ecosystem

Pattern of Succession

Southern Wetlands

and Lakes

Aquatic Ecosystem

Pattern of Succession

Northern Wetlands and Lakes

HUMAN IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS

• Overhunting – When humans over-hunt i.e. deer, lions, bears, over

fishing (Keystone Species or a Top Predator)

• Deforestation – Soil loss, climate change, ecosystem shift (reduce the

amount of soil microorganism and reduce C:N ratio)

• Pollution (Industrialization) – oil, gas, insecticides, sewage, fossil fuels

• Land Conversion – natural ecosystems to farmland, homes, and

cities

• Introduction of Invasive Plants (reduce the native vegetation and reduction in

food for herbivores and NICHES for other species

HUMAN IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS

• Acid Rain –burning of fossil fuels release sulphates and nitrates in the

air, mixed with water vapor in the air form sulphuric acid and nitric acid

• Acidification of Lakes- water becomes acidic killing all life

• Global Warming – increase in CO2 levels raise the Earths temperature

GLOBAL WARMING

NATURAL DISASTERS HAVE AFFECTED HUMAN LIFE IN FLORIDA.

•SINKHOLES

•HURRICANES

•FLOODING

•DROUGHT

CLIMATES

• A climate is the average temperature and

precipitation conditions that exists in an

area

• Include:• Polar area – always cold

• Temperate area – have large variations in temperature and

precipitation depending on distance from equator

• Deserts – receive little precipitation

• Tropical – always hot

• Mountains – get colder with altitude and it usually is wet

one side and dry on the other with snow at the top

• Water – Varies with depth and location on planet

Questions:What is climate?

How does climate

vary on earth

and what is the

effect on living

organisms?

EFFECTS OF SEASON AND CLIMATE ON AN ECOSYSTEM

• Climate change – effect over long periods

of time

• If it is a seasonal change - effects for a

short period of time

• Fur changes – thickness and color

• Hibernation/migration

• Leaves changing colors

• Dormancy

Questions:How do climate

changes effect

organisms? Give

examples.

How do seasons and

climate changes

differ in their

effects on a

ecosystem?

CHANGE: NEW PREDATOR

Monkeys at

Silver River in

Marion County

CHANGE: NEW PREDATOR

CHANGE: CANOPY AND REDUCE COMPETITION

Reduction in species

diversity

OTHER CHANGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM

• Changes can be abiotic:• Temperature, salinity, oxygen levels

• Changes can be biotic:• Changes in the types of organisms that live in

the area

• Removal or introduction or a species effects the entire food chain

• Numbers can be influenced by disease, food, water, shelter, populations, weather, etc.

Questions:What are some

examples of

changes in the

ecosystem and

what are their

results?

PATTERNS OF SUCCESSION AND CHANGES IN FOOD WEB

•NICHE- The space or specific area that a organism lives in a community

•Change in the soil chemistry i.e. the ratio of C:N

• Soil formation- from rock to mineral soils

•Change in the micro-climate, eliminate canopy cover there is

more evaporation less soil water

• Reduce or Increase in overall plant and animal diversity

GUIDED PRACTICE: WHAT ACTIVITIES OR EXERCISES WILL THE STUDENTS COMPLETE WITH TEACHER GUIDANCE?

• Students will work in teams to investigate the following:

• When are hurricanes most likely to occur and what damage might they cause?

• What kind of damage could each level of hurricane cause?

• How do thunderstorms become hurricanes?

• How are hurricanes and tornadoes related?

• What storms can result in floods? Why?

• What causes a sinkhole? Are sinkholes weather related?

• How are tornadoes categorized? What type of damage can be expected with each category?

• Students will create a list of natural disasters that affect Florida and their causes and effects.