SUCESSION STORY

WHAT IS PRIMARY SUCESSION?

• Primary succession is the colonization
• Of new sites by communities of organisms
• It often occurs after a devastating event has wiped
• Out new organisms

STEP 1

• After a geological event bare rock is exposed to the environment
• Pioneer organisms such as lichens are the first to in habit the area
• Lichens give off acid which degrades the rock into soil

STAGE 2

• Once a small amount of soil is present moss may start to grow on in the area
• As moss dies and decays organic matter is added to soil
• The soil progressively becomes thicker and contains more nutrients

STEP3

• As rock continues to break down soil continues to thicken
• Weeds and grasses will start to grow when the soil is thick enough
• As grasses and weeds die they are decomposed and added to the soil

STEP 4

• When soil is thick enough bushes and small trees will start to grow
• Pine trees (gymnosperms)are the first type of trees to grow in an area
• Since they require less water and fewer soil nutrients

Secondary succession
Secondary succession is the series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat. Examples include areas which have been cleared of existing vegetation (such as after tree-felling in a woodland) and destructive events such as fires.

Disturbance in nature
In biology, a disturbance is a temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, sometimes resulting in the removal of large amounts of biomass.

URLS

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