EID 1.5 Ecological Succession

EID 1.5 Ecological Succession

By. Ms. Bailey*

​Lesson Objective: KWBAT distinguish between primary and secondary succession.

​

TEKs: ​7.10(C) observe, record, and describe the role of ecological succession such as in a microhabitat of a  garden with weeds 

​what you Will learn:

​There are two types of ecological succession: primary succession and secondary succession. Primary succession occurs on bare rock where there is no soil or nutrients, while secondary succession occurs with previously existing soil. 

• During primary succession, pioneer species such as lichens and moss are the first to colonize.  During secondary succession, pioneer organisms such as grasses and small shrubs are the first to colonize.

• As more nutrients are present other organisms begin to populate until there is a climax community in which there is the greatest amount of diversity.

​Lesson Vocabulary:

​1.Ecological succession: the change of biologically communities over time

2. Primary succession: occurs on bare rock or when there are no initial nutrients in the soil

3. Secondary succession: occurs when there are nutrients in the soil but not plant growth

4. Pioneer species: first species to colonize an ecosystem that has been previously disrupted

5. Climax community: an ecological community in which populations of plants, animals and fungi remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

Multiple Choice

pioneer species

• first species to colonize an ecosystem that has been previously disrupted

• second species to colonize an ecosystem that has been previously disrupted

• third species to colonize an ecosystem that has not been previously disrupted

• first species to colonize an ecosystem that has not been previously disrupted

Multiple Choice

climax community

• an ecological community in which populations of plants, animals and fungi remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

• an ecological community in which populations of plants, animals and fungi are unstable and exist in an unbalanced environment with each other.

• an ecological community in which populations of plants are stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

Multiple Choice

primary succession

• occurs on bare rock or when there are no initial nutrients in the soil

• occurs when there are no initial nutrients in the soil

• occurs on bare rock when nutrients in the soil

• occurs on bare rock or when there is initial nutrients in the soil

Multiple Choice

ecological succession

• the change of biologically communities over time

• the change of communities over time

• the change of biologically communities over 100 years.

Multiple Choice

secondary succession

• occurs when there are nutrients in the soil but not plant growth

• occurs when there are nutrients in the soil

• occurs when there are not nutrients in the soil but the plants grow

​Welcome back Biologists!  Over the past few days we’ve become expert scientists about the Crater Lake ecosystem and have an understanding of what the rough-skinned newt needs to survive in its environment.  Today, we’re going to explore how the Crater Lake ecosystem has changed over time so that we can eventually answer the unit question, why did the newt population change over time?

Open Ended

Make a prediction! Do ecosystems change over time?  If so, what could cause those changes?

SS: I believe that....

​we are goig to watch a video on Crater Lake.

As you watch listen for the answers to theses two questions:

​

​1. How was Crater Lake formed?

2. How has he ecosystem of Crater Lake changed over the last 8,000 years?

Open Ended

How was Crater Lake formed?

SS: Crater Lake was formed.....

Open Ended

How has the ecosystem of Crater Lake changed over the last 8,000 years?

SS: The ecosystem of crater lake has changed in the last 8,000 years...

​Communities are not usually static.  The numbers and types of species that live in them generally change over time.  This is called ecological succession. The picture above shows a garden, which is considered a microhabitat because of its small size and difference in character to its surroundings.  

Imagine what would happen ten years from now if this garden was left unattended.  What would be the steps in its succession?

​What happens to the lawn if the grass remains uncut over a period of time? You may notice that for a while, the grass on the lawn grows tall and seeds form on the stalks. Shortly thereafter, weeds may emerge through the grass and take over the lawn, limiting or halting the growth of the grass. If the lawn continues to be neglected, small shrubs may begin to grow, and eventually, trees will appear. This natural, gradual change in different species of an area is called ecological succession.

​Primary succession first occurs in areas lacking soil cover, such as a cooled lava bed. Pioneer organisms such as lichens, which do not require soil, first take hold in rocks. Soil forms as weathering, erosion, and lichens break down the rocks into smaller pieces. The formation of soil allows plant species to take root. As plants die and decay, nutrients are added to the soil so that shrubs and eventually trees can grow in the once barren area.

​Secondary succession occurs where soil cover already exists following an event which destroys much of the plant life in the area. Examples of such events include forest fires or clear-cutting of trees in a forest. In these areas, plant seeds are already present in the soil or are brought in by wildlife. This type of succession happens more rapidly than does primary succession. Once the plants and wildlife in an area have become stable, a climax community is established. Within a climax community, the plants life and the organisms which the plants support maintain a balance, cycling nutrients through the food chain and back into the soil as organisms die. The process of ecological succession beginning from primary succession to a climax community takes time, sometimes thousands of years.

​FIND A PARTNER!

Draw

word box: plants and animals adapt// climax community// starts as a result of a forest fire or flood// starts on bare rock// pioneer species// starts with previously existing soil// lichens break down rock// happens relatively slow// starts as the result of a volcano or receding glacier// gradual growth // previously existing life// happens relatively fast.

​FIND A NEW PARTNER!

Draw

During the years following the explosion of Mt. Mazama, the 4,000 ft deep crater began to fill with water from precipitation.  Eventually, a bird or group of birds landed on the lake.  Their feet would have had any number of algae or phytoplankton attached to them.  These algae cells survived and spread out across the lake.

Primary Succession in Crater Lake

Directions:  Below are descriptions of the steps of primary succession that occurred in Crater Lake after Mt. Mazama erupted.  Read each description and decide the order of the events.  Type in numbers 1-4 in the right column to indicate the correct sequence of events.

​FIND A NEW PARTNER!!!

Draw

Secondary Succession in Crater Lake

Other than volcanic activity, wildland fire is the most powerful and significant natural process that has shaped Crater Lake National Park.  Virtually all vegetation communities show evidence of fire dependence or tolerance.  Research from ecologists show that several forest types in the park have been shaped by the return of frequent fires ranging.  An average of 16.1 fires occur per year within Crater Lake National Park, most are ignited by lightning but 1-2 per year are human caused.

Directions:  Below are descriptions of the steps of secondary succession that have occurred after a wildland fire.  Read each description and decide the order of the events.  Type in numbers 1-4 in the right column to indicate the correct sequence of events.

​PROPER POSITIONS PLEASE!!

​EXIT TICKET TIME!

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN?

PARTIONS UP PLEASE!!!​

Multiple Choice

secondary succession

• occurs when there are nutrients in the soil but not plant growth

• occurs when there are nutrients in the soil

• occurs when there are not nutrients in the soil but the plants grow

Multiple Choice

pioneer species

• first species to colonize an ecosystem that has been previously disrupted

• second species to colonize an ecosystem that has been previously disrupted

• third species to colonize an ecosystem that has not been previously disrupted

• first species to colonize an ecosystem that has not been previously disrupted

Multiple Choice

Wildfires in Crater Lake burned approximately 33,000 acres in 2011, leaving 25 square miles of charred timber and bare ground. The five-week fire burned the loblolly pine trees and seeds for which Bastrop State Park is famous. Park rangers are hoping that new plant growth on the bare soil cover will eventually be established as pine trees; however, immediately following a wildfire, the first plants which emerge will most likely be grasses as a stage in─

• PRIMARY SUCCESSION

• SECONDARY SUCCESSION

• TERTIARY SUCCESSION

• CLIMAX COMMUNITY

Multiple Choice

climax community

• an ecological community in which populations of plants, animals and fungi remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

• an ecological community in which populations of plants, animals and fungi are unstable and exist in an unbalanced environment with each other.

• an ecological community in which populations of plants are stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment.

Multiple Choice

Lava flowing after the eruption of Mt. Mazama cooled and hardened forming a land mass.  Which of the following drawings shows the type of plant life which was established first on then new land?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

primary succession

• occurs on bare rock or when there are no initial nutrients in the soil

• occurs when there are no initial nutrients in the soil

• occurs on bare rock when nutrients in the soil

• occurs on bare rock or when there is initial nutrients in the soil

Multiple Choice

A park ranger studies a photograph of an area of Mt. Mazama immediately after its eruption and another photograph of the same area several years later. Which of the following statements best describes the stage of ecological succession shown in the second drawing?

• The area shown in the second drawing has reached its climax community.

• Trees have difficulty becoming established in the area shown in the second drawing because of the absence of soil cover during secondary succession.

• Shrubs are easily established as a result of abundant soil cover during primary succession.

• The area is undergoing changes which occur during secondary succession when shrubs begin to take root.

Multiple Choice

ecological succession

• the change of biologically communities over time

• the change of communities over time

• the change of biologically communities over 100 years.