Lecture Notes: Ecological Succession

Introduction

• Mention of Disney's Lion King as an analogy for ecological succession.
  • Lion King's ending shows life regenerating, symbolizing ecological succession.
• Definition of succession in general terms.

Ecological Succession

• Definition: The process over time of organisms in an ecological community.
• Levels of ecological organization:
  • Organism: Single living entity (e.g., a hippo).
  • Population: Group of the same species in an area (e.g., hippos).
  • Community: Multiple populations in an area (e.g., hippos, lions, trees).

Types of Succession

Primary Succession

• Occurs in a brand new area without soil.
  • Example: Lava flow from a volcano.
• Pioneer Species: First colonizers (e.g., lichen, moss).
  • Breaks down rock into soil.
• Sequence of development:
  • Pioneer species ➔ Small plants (e.g., grasses) ➔ Shrubs ➔ Trees
  • Animals eventually move in.
• Takes hundreds of years to reach a climax community.

Secondary Succession

• Occurs in areas with existing soil after a disturbance.
  • Examples of disturbances: Forest fire, flood, tornado, human activity.
• Pioneer Species: Small plants due to existing soil.
• Follows a sequence similar to primary succession but is faster due to the presence of soil.

Importance of Ecological Succession

• Demonstrates increasing biodiversity over time.
• Supports a diverse ecological community.
• Biodiversity is emphasized as beneficial and beautiful.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to stay curious about ecological processes.