1. Ecological Succession

• Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary

​

2. Primary Succession

• There is no soil at the beginning of primary succession.
• The first species to populate the new area is called a pioneer species.

​

3. Primary Succession

• Pioneer species are usually lichens or mosses, carried to the soil area by wind or water, that can grow in little or no soil.

​

4. Soil Formation

• New soil forms as weathering breaks down rock.
• Decaying plants add organic material to new soil.

​

5. Equilibrium

• In time, the numbers and types of organisms no longer change rapidly, they come in balance with the resources. This is called Equilibrium.

6. Climax Community

• A community which has reached this stable stage is called a Climax Community.

7. Primary Succession Flow Map

Pioneer

8. Dispersal

• Organisms move to a new place through dispersal.
• This can happen by wind, water, & living things.

​

• Follows disturbance of an existing community that removes or damages the vegetation, but does not remove, destroy, or cover the soil.

​

• Starts WITH SOIL.

​

• PIONEER PLANTS of secondary succession (the first plants to become established after the disturbance) start from roots or seeds remaining in the soil or from seeds carried in by wind or animals from surrounding communities.�
• Faster than primary succession.

9. Secondary Succession

• Follows disturbance of an existing community that removes or damages the vegetation, but does not remove, destroy, or cover the soil.
• Starts WITH SOIL.

​

10. Secondary Succession

• PIONEER PLANTS of secondary succession start from roots or seeds remaining in the soil or from seeds carried in by wind or animals from surrounding communities.
• Faster than primary succession.

​

Secondary Succession

• Farmers field over a 20 year period