Ecological Succession

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Ecological Succession

• Succession The continual maturing of a
  particular habitat through predictable changes
  over time
• Primary Succession when succession begins from
  an area where no soil exists
• Pioneer Species the first species to grow
• (usually lichens)

2
Ecological Succession

• Secondary Succession when
• succession must start over after some
• sort of disturbance (the community does
• not lose its soil)
• Example land naturally developing after a
• forest fire or farmland after agriculture is
• abandoned
• The final stage in succession is called
• a climax community, the most stable,
• diversified, and complex stage.
• (usually has many hardwood trees)

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Biomes

• A large group of ecosystems that share the same
  type of climax community

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Types of biomes

• Aquatic 1. marine biomes (saltwater)
• 2. freshwater biomes
• Terrestrial 3. tundra
• 4. taiga (coniferous forest)
• 5. desert
• 6. grassland
• 7. temperate forest (deciduous forest)
• 8. tropical rain forest

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Marine Biomes

• Oceans contain the largest amount of living
  material (biomass) of all of the biomes but
  most of them are microscopic orgs!!!

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Freshwater Biomes

• EX. Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams
• Light penetration affects productivity
• (amount of life present)
• But, bottoms of lakes and ponds have decay taking
  place (dead organisms drift to bottom, bacteria
  break them down and form detritus)

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Tundra
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Tundra

• Abiotic factors strong windslow precipshort
  and soggy summers long, cold, dark winters
  poorly developed soils, permafrost
• Dominant Plants mosses, lichens, sedges, short
  grasses (ground-hugging)
• Dominant wildlife birds and mammals that can
  withstand harshness migratory waterfowl, shore
  birds, musk ox, Arctic fox, caribou small
  rodents
• Geographic distribution northern N.A., Asia and
  Europe

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Tundra

• One of two biomes that circle poles, closest one
  to poles
• Treeless land
• Long summer days, short periods of winter
  sunlight
• Permafrost present permanently frozen ground
  under the topsoil
• When melts, ground is soggy and wet
• Cycle of freezing and thawing rips and crushes
  plant roots, so plants are small and stunted
• Also, process of decay is slow cold temps slow
  down bacteria, so not much humus (little
  nutrients in soil) again, plants are short and
  stunted
• Short growing season
• Low precipitation

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Coniferous forests
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Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forests

• Abiotic factors long, cold winters short, mild
  summers moderate precip high humidity acidic,
  nutrient-poor soil
• Dominant Plants needleleaf coniferous trees,
  broadleaf deciduous trees small, berry-bearing
  shrubs
• Dominant Wildlife predators like lynx and
  timberwolves weasel family herbivorous mammals
  (large and small) beavers migratory songbirds
• Geographic distribution N.A., Asia, Northern
  Europe

12
Taiga, Boreal or Coniferous Forest Cont.

• Also circles poles
• Dense evergreen forests of conifers
• A little warmer and wetter than tundra, but long,
  severe winters and short,mild summers
• NO PERMAFROST layer, but decay of evergreen
  needles makes soil acidic and mineral-poor

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Deserts
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Deserts

• Abiotic factors low precipitation, variable
  temperatures, soil rich in minerals BUT poor in
  organic material
• Dominant plants cacti and succulents, creosote
  bush, plants with short life cycles
• Dominant wildlife predators (mtn lions, fox,
  bobcats) herbivores (deer, antelope, sheep,
  rats) bats, birds, insects, reptiles
• Geographic distribution Africa, Asia, Middle
  East, U.S., Mexico, S.A., Australia

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Deserts

• Driest of all biomes -- lt 25 cm rainfall per
  year but, other than this, deserts vary greatly
  
• Little to no plant life what is present is
  adapted for holding on in shifting sand and with
  little water available
• Rodents are present, but these small herbivores
  stay hidden in day, come out at night nocturnal
• Carnivores coyotes, hawks, owls, scorpions,
  lizards

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Savanna
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Savanna
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Grasslands/Savannah

• Abiotic factors warm temps, seasonal rainfall,
  compact soil, frequent fires due to lightning
• Dominant plants tall, perennial grasses,
  drought- and fire-resistant shrubs and trees
• Dominant wildlife predators (lions, leopards,
  cheetahs, hyenas, jackals), herbivores
  (elephants, giraffes, antelopes, zebras), birds
  (eagles, ostriches, weaver birds, storks),
  insects (termites)
• Geographic distribution large parts of eastern
  Africa, southern Brazil, northern Australia

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Temperate grassland
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Grasslands

• Abiotic factors warm to hot summers, cold
  winters, moderate, seasonal prec, fertile soils,
  fires
• Dominant plants lush, perennial grasses and
  herbs, resistant to drought, fire and
• Dominant wildlife predators (coyotes, badgers,
  wolves, grizzly bear) herbivores (deer,
  antelope, rabbits, prairie dogs, bison) birds
  (hawks, owls, bobwhite), insects (ants and
  grasshoppers)
• Geographic distribution central Asia, N.A.,
  Australia, central Europe, upland plateaus of
  S.A.

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Grasslands Cont.

• Between 25 and 75 cm of annual precipitation
• Covered with grasses
• Other names prairies, steppes, savannas, pampas
• Fewer than 10-15 trees per hectare
• Occupies more area than any other terrestrial
  biome
• Good humus content in soil
• Humus broken down organic material in soil

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Temperate deciduous forest
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Temperate/Deciduous forest

• Abiotic factors cold to moderate winters, warm
  summers, year-round precip, fertile soil
• Dominant plants deciduous trees, some conifers,
  flowering shrubs, herbs, mosses and ferns
• Dominant wildlife deer, black bears, bobcats,
  nut and acorn feeders, omnivores (raccoons and
  skunks), songbirds, turkeys
• Geographic distribution eastern U.S.,
  southeastern Canada, most of Europe, parts of
  Japan, China, and Australia

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Temperate/Deciduous Forests Cont.

• 70-150 cm annual precipitation
• Broad-leaved hardwood trees that shed their
  leaves each year
• Soil has top layer that is rich in humus, deeper
  layer of clay. If minerals are not taken up by
  plants roots, the minerals get into clay and are
  trapped
• Many animals live here year round

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Tropical forests
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Tropical Rain Forests

• Abiotic factors hot and wet year-round, thin,
  nutrient-poor soil
• Dominant plantlife broad-leaved evergreen
  trees, ferns, large woody vines, climbing plants,
  orchids and bromeliads
• Dominant wildlife herbivores (sloths, tapirs),
  predators (jaguars), monkeys, birds (parrots,
  toucans), insects (butterflies, ants, beetles),
  piranhas and other freshwater fishes, reptiles
  (snakes0
• Geographic distribution parts of South and
  Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa,
  southern India, northeastern Australia

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Tropical Rain Forests Cont.

• Home to more species than any other biome on
  earth (many habitat possibilities)
• Warm temps, wet weather, lush vegetation
• Near equator
• Nutrients are tied up in living material very
  few nutrients are held in the soil because
  decomposers break down dead stuff very quickly

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The distribution of major terrestrial biomes