ecological succession unit powerpoint for educators - download at www. science powerpoint .com

Ecological Succession Unit

Start Part V / V of an educational unit aboutChange Topics in Science for

students in grades 7-10

Part I: Evolution and Natural SelectionPart II: Evolution and Natural Selection

Part III: Earth System HistoryPart IV: Life and Human OriginsPart V: Ecological Succession

Download the Powerpoint version of this video, unit notes, assessments, lab handouts, review

games, videos, and much more at www.sciencepowerpoint.com

• RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very important and should be recorded in your science journal.

• BLACK SLIDE: Pay attention, follow directions, complete projects as described and answer required questions neatly.

• Keep an eye out for “The Owl” and raise your hand as soon as you see him.– He will be hiding somewhere in the slideshow

and finding him is worth something cool.

“Hoot, Hoot”“Good Luck!”

Ecological Succession Unit

Ecological Succession Unit.Ecological Succession Unit.

• What would happen to this street if people disappeared forever that morning.– 1 year– 5 years– 10 years– 50 years– 100 years– 500 years– 1000 years

• Start

• First few years – Only lichens grow.

• Lichens wear down rock, facilitate weathering and soil formation. Moss then begins to grow.

• Moss will hold more soil and moisture, Grasses begin to colonize.

• Sun loving shrubs and weeds colonize the grasses.

• Sun loving trees emerge from the old-field community.

• Sun-loving trees and conifers.

• Shade tolerant trees.

• Climax community – until an event starts it over.

• After a 1000 years, there would be very little evidence that this was once a city.

Ecological succession: The gradual Ecological succession: The gradual replacement of one community of replacement of one community of living things by another community.living things by another community.

Primary Succession: Begins in an Primary Succession: Begins in an area with no previous life supported area with no previous life supported (bare rock).(bare rock).

Secondary Succession: Succession in Secondary Succession: Succession in an area that previously colonized life an area that previously colonized life but is now disturbed.but is now disturbed.

Recent Disturbance

Earlier Disturbance

Recent Disturbance

Earlier Disturbance

Older Disturbance

• In secondary succession, regrowth is usually faster because…– -– -– -

• Seeds are already in soil.

• Stumps and roots and some plants can re-grow.

• There is still soil, nutrients, and micro-organisms.

“Hoot” “Hoot” “Did Anybody see

me.”

“Hoot” “Hoot” “Did Anybody see

me.”

Plant Succession: Plants are replaced Plant Succession: Plants are replaced (succession is dominated by plants).(succession is dominated by plants).

Animal Succession: Animals are Animal Succession: Animals are replaced (Animals help succession).replaced (Animals help succession).

The order of ecological succession The order of ecological succession from primary successionfrom primary succession------------------

• Notes need to use indentations so that they are organized.– Bare Rock – Lichens

• Acids secreted by the lichens attack the rock (chemical weathering) and create soil fragments.

– Mosses• Create humus and retain moisture.

– Grasses and Sedges– Meadow Stage

• Grasses• Yearly plants• Weeds

– Old Field Community• Perennials (year after year).• Goldenrod, Milkweed.

Bare rock.Bare rock.

LichensLichens

LichensLichensAcids secreted by the lichens attack the Acids secreted by the lichens attack the

rock (chemical weathering) and create rock (chemical weathering) and create soil fragments. soil fragments.

LichensLichensAcids secreted by the lichens attack the Acids secreted by the lichens attack the

rock (chemical weathering) and create rock (chemical weathering) and create soil fragments. soil fragments.

Mosses.Mosses.Create humus and retain moisture.Create humus and retain moisture.

• The growth, death, and decay of mosses produces more humus, and soon there is enough to support the growth of grasses.

Meadow StageMeadow StageGrassesGrassesYearly plantsYearly plantsWeedsWeeds

Old-Field CommunityOld-Field Community Perennials (year after year).Perennials (year after year). Goldenrod, Milkweed.Goldenrod, Milkweed.

Sun-loving Shrubs Sun-loving Shrubs Soil base now forms.Soil base now forms.Sumac, Willow, Dogwood, Apple.Sumac, Willow, Dogwood, Apple.

Sun-Loving TreesSun-Loving TreesOrganic matter increases from fallen Organic matter increases from fallen

leaves.leaves.Poplar, Birch, Quaking Aspen.Poplar, Birch, Quaking Aspen.

ConifersConifersEnriched soil allows pines to growEnriched soil allows pines to growPines are sun loving and grow wellPines are sun loving and grow wellEventually they shade out their Eventually they shade out their

offspring, no new pines grow.offspring, no new pines grow.

• You can see the conifers encroaching upon the aspens.

Shade Tolerant HardwoodsShade Tolerant HardwoodsThese can grow in shade.These can grow in shade.Oak, Hickory, Ash.Oak, Hickory, Ash.

Shade Loving Trees: Climax Shade Loving Trees: Climax Community Community Beech Trees, and MaplesBeech Trees, and MaplesClimax means final community.Climax means final community.

• Their offspring can survive the shade so the population lasts until…

• The climax community of Beech trees exists until….

• What could reset the forest back to rock?

Events that can restart succession.Events that can restart succession. -- -- -- -- --

A forest fire.A forest fire.

• Video! Succession after a fire

A volcanic event.A volcanic event.

Logging / Human Impact.Logging / Human Impact.

Erosion.Erosion.

Ice Age / Glaciers.Ice Age / Glaciers.

• On rare instances, a catastrophic meteor event can blast away any life in an area.

• Quiz 1-10 Name the stage of succession.

• Bare Rock, Lichens, Mosses, Meadow Stage, Old-Field Community, Sun-loving shrubs, Sun-loving trees, Conifers, Shade tolderant Trees, Shade Loving Trees (Climax).

• Bonus – Name the Movie.

• Quiz 1-10 Name the stage of succession.• Bare Rock, Lichens, Mosses, Meadow Stage,

Old-Field Community, Sun-loving shrubs, Sun-loving trees, Conifers, Shade tolerant Trees, Shade Loving Trees (Climax).

1 Sun-loving Trees

2 Lichens

3 Shade Loving Trees / Climax

4 Bare rock

5 Meadow Stage

6 Sun-loving shrubs

7 Shade Tolerant Trees

8 Mosses

9 Old-Field Community

10 Conifers

• Bonus – Name the Movie.

• Bonus –Bring it on (2000).

• Process of succession is similar in aquatics. Eventually, a pond will be become a forested wetland, and then a forest.

• Layers of vegetation accumulate on the bottom of pond or lake.

• Emergent vegetation begins.

• This area use to be a…

• This area use to be a…Pond

• Video! Pond Succession.– A well done student project.

• Which pond is the youngest and most Oligiotrophic?

• Answer! Which pond is the youngest and most Olgiotrophic?

• Which pond is the oldest and most Eutrophic?

• Answer! Which pond is the oldest and most Eutrophic?

• Which ponds are middle aged and Mesotrophic?

• Answer! Which ponds are middle aged and Mesotrophic?

• Video! Ecological Succession.

As succession increases in timeAs succession increases in time# of species…………………………# of species…………………………

increasesincreasesTotal population……………………Total population……………………

increasesincreasesTotal Biomass……………………….Total Biomass………………………. ““Organic Matter………………………Organic Matter……………………… ““

• What use to be here? What happened to them?

• The essence of succession is that each species brings upon it’s own downfall by changing the environment.

• Other organisms can survive and then dominate.

• The process repeats and each species die until climax community. You create your own extinction.

• When you change your environment you bring about your own downfall.

• Try to guess the picture hidden beneath the boxes.– You only get one guess. Raise your hand when you

want to guess.

Rock with Lichens

• Try Again! Try to guess the picture hidden beneath the boxes.– You only get one guess. Raise your hand when you

want to guess.

Central Park, New York City

Central Park, New York CityEssence of Succession: By changing your environment you bring upon your own demise.

• Succession Assessment due shortly.

End Ecological Succession Unit

• More Units Available at…

Earth Science: The Soil Science and Glaciers Unit, The Geology Topics Unit, The Astronomy Topics Unit, The Weather and Climate Unit, and The River Unit, The Water Molecule Unit.

Physical Science: The Laws of Motion and Machines Unit, The Atoms and Periodic Table Unit, The Energy and the Environment Unit, and The Introduction to Science / Metric Unit.

Life Science: The Diseases and Cells Unit, The DNA and Genetics Unit, The Life Topics Unit, The Plant Unit, The Taxonomy and Classification Unit, Ecology: Feeding Levels Unit, Ecology: Interactions Unit, Ecology: Abiotic Factors, The Evolution and Natural Selection Unit and coming soon The Anatomy and Physiology Unit.

ecological succession unit powerpoint for educators - download at www. science powerpoint .com

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