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Material Type: Notes; Professor: Blair; Class: Ecology; Subject: Biology; University: Xavier University; Term: Unknown 1989;
Typology: Study notes
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Introduction^ Announcements Primary Succession Secondary Succession Disturbance Ecosystem Recovery Mechanisms of Succession Community and Ecosystem Stability !Succession: Gradual change in plant and animal communities in an area following disturbance.
!Climax Community: Late successional community that remains stable until disrupted by disturbance. Introduction ! Reiners et.al. studied changes in plant diversity during succession.
!Not all groups increased in density throughout succession. Primary Succession
Primary Succession
Primary Succession
! Chapin documented substantial changes in ecosystem structure during succession at Glacier Bay.
!In addition, organic content, moisture, and N concentrations all increased.
Secondary Succession
Secondary Succession
More commonly observed pattern.. .Why? Secondary Succession
Impact of disturbance on diversity ! Bormann and Likens found felling trees in Hubbard Brook substantially increased nutrient losses.
!When application stopped, succession proceeded, nutrient losses decreased,and primary production increased.
!Reduced nutrient amounts in ecosystem.
!Biomass Accumulation Model !Reorganization ( 10 - 20 yrs)
!Colonizers “Pioneer Species” modify environment so it becomes less suitable for themselves and more suitable for species of later successional stages. Model of Ecosystem Recovery
!Initial stages of colonization are not limited to pioneer species.
Model of Ecosystem Recovery