Ecosystem Stability:Ecological Succession

Biodiversity

* a variety of life in an area *measured by counting number of species that live there

C.) biodiversity(living different) and succession

-as a habitat matures(grows up), the biodiversity increases --the climax community has the greatest amount of biodiversity and therefore it is the most stable

When an ecosystem is disturbed a high level of biodiversity will:

-help ecosystem return to its natural balance -increase the chance for ecosystem to recover -help availability of different species -May lead to discovery of medicines -May lead to finding genes to use to develop new crops

B. Succession depends on plants (But animals change too,because they depend on plants)

-plants are producers/autotrophs for the ecosystem -since animals eat plants, plants decide which types of animals can survive either directly or indirectly -the species that have the most effect on the ecosystem are referred to as the "dominant species"

Steps in Primary Succession

1.) a new surface is created where no soil exists(example: a volcano destroys some land 2.) 1st organisms(pioneer organism/pioneer species) appear (usually lichens) 3.)mosses soon appear and grasses take root in a thin layer of topsoil 4.)then shrubs, then tree seedlings sprout and grow **5.)succession will continue until a mature,STABLE community develops in which all species thrive(CLIMAX COMMUNITY)

Putting Together ecosystem stability, succession and biodiversity

1.)Ecosystems and Biodiversity 2.)biodiversity and succession

Secondary succession steps

1.)Forest fires destroy a large area of forest 2.)slowly, new plants grow to form new community-weeds, grasses-shrubs 3.)successive communities are replaced until a CLIMAX COMMUNITY is established

C. Types of Succession

1.)Primary succession 2.)Secondary succession

Ecosystems and Biodiversity(living different)

By photosynthesis *-ecosystems need a constant source of energy, a method of incorporating this energy into the system, a method to recycle nutrients through the biotic and abiotic factors *-Ecosystems are most stable when they have a HIGH level of biodiversity *-biodiversity

A. Ecological succession

Ecosystem undergo change

Dominant species

Example: here-temperate deciduous Forrest-maples and beeches

Changes(alterations) occur(happen) because living organisms alter(change)the environment

Example: moss and grasses grow and die and produce more topsoil so they are placed with shrubs with larger roots

Terrestrial

Land

Change also occurs as a response to abrupt disturbance such as natural disasters or human activities

Natural disaster-flood, fire, glacier, tornadoes Human activities-cutting down Forrest, over trapping

Secondary succession

Occurs where existing community has been partially destroyed and balance upset- Already have soil faster. Example: a.) clear cut forest(to farm, to log) b.)farming stops-to grasses-shrubs-trees-quite quickly

As an ecosystem changes,older(mature) inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in,causing further changes in the community.

These gradual changes are referred to as Ecological Succession(or just succession)

In CONCLUSION

Through ecological succession, all ecosystems progress through a sequence of changes during which one ecological community alters(changes) the environment, making it more stable for another community. These long-term gradual(slow) changes result in the community reaching a point of biodiversity than can last for hundreds of thousands of years.

Aquatic

Water

Climax community

When succession continues until a mature(developed) stable ecosystem develops

3.) Succession steps in small lakes and ponds

a.) First sediments and debris are deposited creating shallower water where cat tails and mosses can grow b.) banks extend inward, more plants grow, eventually fills in lakes c.) the lakes become a marsh which may fill in and land communities begin to replace aquatic communities