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TRANSCRIPT
ECOSYSTEMS: SUCCESSION
• VOCABULARY
• SUCCESSION
• PRIMARY SUCCESSION
• SECONDARY SUCCESSION
• PIONEER SPECIES
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new
populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones
• 1. Primary Succession – occurs in an area where there is no existing
communities and for some reason (s) a new community of organisms moved
into the area (the least diverse community, few plants and animals)
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new
populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones
• 2. Secondary Succession – occurs in an area where an existing community is
partially damaged (more diverse than primary succession; at this stage we have
the formation of “NICHES”; nutrient flow is slower; diverse group of soil N fixers
move in and help provide available soil N for next group of plants)
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
• A change in a community, habitat, or ecosystem in which new
populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones
• 3. Climax Community – a community that is stable and has a great
diversity of organisms (very diverse community of plants and animals; we
have a very diverse “NICHE” community of habitats; soil nutrients flow in
and out of the system)
HUMAN IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS
• Overhunting – When humans over-hunt i.e. deer, lions, bears, over
fishing (Keystone Species or a Top Predator)
• Deforestation – Soil loss, climate change, ecosystem shift (reduce the
amount of soil microorganism and reduce C:N ratio)
• Pollution (Industrialization) – oil, gas, insecticides, sewage, fossil fuels
• Land Conversion – natural ecosystems to farmland, homes, and
cities
• Introduction of Invasive Plants (reduce the native vegetation and reduction in
food for herbivores and NICHES for other species
HUMAN IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS
• Acid Rain –burning of fossil fuels release sulphates and nitrates in the
air, mixed with water vapor in the air form sulphuric acid and nitric acid
• Acidification of Lakes- water becomes acidic killing all life
• Global Warming – increase in CO2 levels raise the Earths temperature
CLIMATES
• A climate is the average temperature and
precipitation conditions that exists in an
area
• Include:• Polar area – always cold
• Temperate area – have large variations in temperature and
precipitation depending on distance from equator
• Deserts – receive little precipitation
• Tropical – always hot
• Mountains – get colder with altitude and it usually is wet
one side and dry on the other with snow at the top
• Water – Varies with depth and location on planet
Questions:What is climate?
How does climate
vary on earth
and what is the
effect on living
organisms?
EFFECTS OF SEASON AND CLIMATE ON AN ECOSYSTEM
• Climate change – effect over long periods
of time
• If it is a seasonal change - effects for a
short period of time
• Fur changes – thickness and color
• Hibernation/migration
• Leaves changing colors
• Dormancy
Questions:How do climate
changes effect
organisms? Give
examples.
How do seasons and
climate changes
differ in their
effects on a
ecosystem?
OTHER CHANGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM
• Changes can be abiotic:• Temperature, salinity, oxygen levels
• Changes can be biotic:• Changes in the types of organisms that live in
the area
• Removal or introduction or a species effects the entire food chain
• Numbers can be influenced by disease, food, water, shelter, populations, weather, etc.
Questions:What are some
examples of
changes in the
ecosystem and
what are their
results?
PATTERNS OF SUCCESSION AND CHANGES IN FOOD WEB
•NICHE- The space or specific area that a organism lives in a community
•Change in the soil chemistry i.e. the ratio of C:N
• Soil formation- from rock to mineral soils
•Change in the micro-climate, eliminate canopy cover there is
more evaporation less soil water
• Reduce or Increase in overall plant and animal diversity
GUIDED PRACTICE: WHAT ACTIVITIES OR EXERCISES WILL THE STUDENTS COMPLETE WITH TEACHER GUIDANCE?
• Students will work in teams to investigate the following:
• When are hurricanes most likely to occur and what damage might they cause?
• What kind of damage could each level of hurricane cause?
• How do thunderstorms become hurricanes?
• How are hurricanes and tornadoes related?
• What storms can result in floods? Why?
• What causes a sinkhole? Are sinkholes weather related?
• How are tornadoes categorized? What type of damage can be expected with each category?
• Students will create a list of natural disasters that affect Florida and their causes and effects.