Transcript Ecological succession

ECOLOGY
• Read the article “Silent Spring” with a partner.
Make some notes on significant topics in your
lab notebook as you go along.
Questions
1. What do you think the title of Carson’s book,
Silent Spring, represents?
Questions
1. What do you think the title of Carson’s book,
Silent Spring, represents?
2. Why do you think the American Medical
Association, USDA, and chemical companies
had such a strong reaction against the book?
Questions
1. What do you think the title of Carson’s book,
Silent Spring, represents?
2. Why do you think the American Medical
Association, USDA, and chemical companies
had such a strong reaction against the book?
3. Do you think that Carson would be pleased or
not pleased with the progress we have made
environmentally since she died in 1964? What
would she say if she could see the world now?
Ecology
CO
O
2
Ecology is the study of
the relationships
between organisms
and their abiotic
(nonliving) and biotic
(living) environment
Nutrients
2
Ecosystem
Abiotic
factors:
Biotic
factors:
Physical
environment
living
competitors,
predators,
parasites
Community
nonliving
atmosphere,
soil,
water,
wind
Biological Complexity
Living organisms can be
studied at different levels
of complexity.
From least to most
complex:
Individual
Population
Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Community
Ecosystem
Population
Biome
Biosphere
Individual
The Biosphere
The biosphere is
the region within
which all living
things are found
on Earth.
Ecological Succession
Ecological succession: process by which
communities in a particular area change over time.
Community makeup changes with time
Past
community
Present
community
Future
community
Early Successional
Communities
A succession proceeds in
stages.
Pioneer community, Hawaii
Pioneer species are the first
species in the new
environment.
Broad niches
Climax
Communities
The “end result” of
succession
Complex structure, with a
large number of species
interactions.
Climax community, Hawaii
High species diversity.
Large number of species interactions
Primary
Succession
Primary succession: no pre-existing
community. Examples:
volcanic islands
Retraction of glaciers
Secondary Succession
Secondary succession: an
existing community has been
cleared by a disturbance.
Examples: tornados, forest
fires.
Because there is still soil
present, the ecosystem
recovery is faster than
primary succession.
Forest fire
Succession Project
• Choose a real region to research following either
primary or secondary succession.
• Create a succession “map.” Your map should
include:
• A timeline of succession (rate of succession)
• Species changes, including pioneer species
• Illustrations or pictures of stages of succession
• Reaching a climax community
• Abiotic changes