What is ecological

succession? (Ch.4.3)•The series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time.

Primary Succession• It occurs when new growth/plants appear on new land or soil. For example new plants growing on newly deposited volcanic rock.

Pioneer species is the first species to colonize barren areas.

Primary succession

Secondary succession

• Occurs when there is a disruption in an existing community (where plants already live), and new species of plants come about.

• Example: After forest fire

Secondary Succession

Climax Communities

• A climax community is an ecological community that has reached the final stage of ecological succession.• Secondary Succession in a healthy ecosystem often reproduces the original

climax community

Agriculture

Invasive species