Ecological

Succession
Ecological Succession
Natural, gradual changes in the
types of species that live in an area;
can be primary or secondary
The gradual replacement of one
plant community by another through
natural processes over time
It is the series of changes in an ecosystem
when one community is replaced by another
community as a result of changes in biotic and
abiotic factors
 Can regenerate a damaged community
Can create a community in a previously
uninhabited area
Occurs in all types of ecosystems (forests,
ponds, coral reefs, etc)
Two main types of ecological
succession
Primary Succession

Secondary Succession
 Primary Succession
the process of creating and
developing an ecosystem in an area
that was previously uninhabited
Examples of uninhabited areas:
• Sides of volcanoes
• Sites of glacier recession
•Occurs in areas with no soil
•Is a very slow process
•The process of primary succession starts with
the arrival of living things such as lichens and
mosses that do not need soil to survive
These first species are called pioneer
species
Pioneer species: the first organisms to live
in a previously uninhabited area
1. Pioneer species move into an unoccupied area
• The pioneer species help create soil by breaking down
the rock particles into smaller and smaller pieces
• As lichen and mosses die, they decompose and add
small amounts of nutrients to the rock particles, creating
soil
• During this early stage of succession there
are not many habitats so not many organisms
are found in the environment
 Once there is enough soil and nutrients, small
plants such as flowers, ferns, and grasses grow
 These plants help to further break down the rocks
and add nutrients to the soil when they die and
decompose
3. The small plants create habitats for
small animals like insects and small
mammals
• Over time, as animals die
and decompose, their
bodies add nutrients to the
soil allowing larger plant
species to populate the
area
• Larger animals follow the
larger plants
• Eventually, a mature
community is formed, this
mature community is called a
climax community
• A climax community is a
community that is able to
maintain itself for long periods
of time with few changes in
the species that populate it
Primary Succession
 Secondary Succession
Secondary Succession: the process of repairing a
damaged ecosystem
•Occurs in areas where the soil was left intact
Examples of events that damage ecosystems:
• Natural disasters
• Human activities
• Death of organisms
•Is typically a much faster
process than primary
succession because there
is already soil
• Secondary succession is
a never ending process
• Any disturbance in an
ecosystem results in
secondary succession
starting over
Secondary Succession
• Looks very similar to primary succession but does
not require soil forming pioneer species
Secondary Succession
•If an ecosystem is frequently
disturbed it will not be able to
support large trees and animals so
it will consist of the animals typical
of the early stages of succession
The Circle of Secondary Succession
 Why does Ecological Succession
Occur?
Because it is the process of life for plants
and other living organisms.
Because organisms alter soil structure
and the species communities constantly
change over a period of time.
Gradual Change from Pioneer
Stages to Climax Community
How Ecological Succession takes
place?
Succession will
continue until the
environment
reaches it’s final
stage,
--- the Climax Community.
 Climax Community
A climax community is a mature,
stable community that is the final
stage of ecological succession
 This type of community remains the
same through out the time, if it is not
disturbed.
These are Climax Communities
Thank You.