Imagine an
island just
created by
volcanic activity.
What would it
look like?
What is the
ground made out
of?
Can plants grow
on this island?
Discuss within your
group
“How might the
island eventually
support life?”
the “Student Guide” on
ecological succession and then
answer the following questions
in complete sentences in your
biology notebook.
1. What is ecological succession?
2. What are the two major types
of ecological succession?
3.What is a “pioneer species?” Give an example.
4.What type of succession is occurring since the
2011 Texas wildfires? Explain.
The Bastrop fire in 2011 was the costliest
and most destructive fire in the history of
Texas. The devastating fire scorched 32,400
acres of land, consuming four-story tall
pines, snakes, wildflowers, and thousands of
other plant and animal species.
What final
ecological
stage will
exist in
Bastrop County
after many
years of
succession?
Even though this fire caused mass destruction,
it gave ecologists an opportunity to study
succession in action. Foresters in the area state
that the Lost Pines forest in Bastrop County will
eventually regenerate, but this process will be
slow. In other words, the process of succession
will not be complete within the lifetime of the
people who live there. Already new grasses have
emerged, along with small wildflowers. Insects
are back on the scene for pollination. The
climax community is many years away, but the
process of succession is moving forward.
a) Can reach a climax community
b) Forms on exposed rock
c) No soil
Primary
Succession
Both
Secondary
Succession
d) Organisms are currently there
e) Pioneer species will emerge
f) No previous living organisms living there
g) Most common type Ecological
Succession
In your notebook, create a
Venn diagram. Use the
descriptors on the right to
compare and contrast
primary and secondary
succession:
h) Occurs after volcanic eruptions
i) Occurs after a hurricane
j) Occurs with glaciers
k) Occurs after a wildfire
l) Gradual change in the environment
a) Can reach a climax
community
g) Most common type
Ecological Succession
b) Forms on exposed rock
h) Occurs after volcanic
eruptions
c) No soil
d) Organisms are currently
there
e) Pioneer species will
emerge
f) No previous living
organisms living there
i) Occurs after a hurricane
j) Occurs with glaciers
k) Occurs after a wildfire
l) Gradual change in the
environment
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
b) Forms on
d) Organisms
exposed
are currently
rock
there
a) Can reach
c) No soil
a climax
g) Most common
community
f) No previous
type
living organisms e) Pioneer species
living there
will emerge
i) Occurs after a
h) Occurs after
volcanic
eruptions
j) Occurs with
glaciers
l) Gradual
change
hurricane
k) Occurs after
a wildfire
Break into 6 equal lab groups
Each station has a
Student Reference Sheet
describing one example of
Ecological Succession and
a set of questions or
procedures you need
to follow.
Complete the
questions/procedures
in your biology
notebook using
complete sentences
and detailed
drawing/graphics
You will have
5 minutes at each station
to complete the activity.
Succession occurs in stages with
different species of plants and
Stage
animals at each stage because
4
the conditions of that
Stage 3
stage are suitable for
these organisms
Stage 2
but not others
Stage 1
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Succession is Very Predictable
It is the natural changes and species replacement
that takes place in the communities of an ecosystem.
takes place on land
where there are no
previous living
organisms
Climax
Community
Stable
mature
community.
As soil builds, seeds
carried by wind or
water allow bushes
and grass to grow.
New soil makes it possible for
plants (weeds and ferns) and
insects to move into the
community.
Pioneer Species such as lichens break
down barren rock into useable soil.
is the sequence
of changes
that take
place after
an existing
community is
severely damaged in some way
Deep fresh water, no rooted plants because
of lack of light in deep water.
Sediments get carried into the pond allowing
rooted submerged and floating plants to start
growing.
Sedimentation continues, and reeds and
grasses develop around the edge of the pond
trapping more sediments.
A marsh community builds up around the pond.
Reeds take over more of the pond as more silt
builds up.
As soils around the edge begin to dry, tree
species such as willows begin to grow
What would
you expect to
happen if the
lake went
completely
dry?
Volcano erupting in the ocean creating a new island. Primary or
Secondary?
Fires near Possum Kingdom lake. Primary or Secondary ?
Path behind a glacier. Primary or Secondary?
Answer the following Questions?
If you hiked through a patch of land that
contained a pine forest into an area that
contained only ferns, shrubs, and grasses,
would you be moving from an younger to
an older community or an older to a
younger community?
OLDER
YOUNGER
Answer the following Questions?
Which community would support the
greatest number and diversity of
organisms the pioneer community, one of
the intermediate communities or the
climax community? Be ready to explain
your answer.
The climax community is
very stable due to
the number and
diversity of the
organisms that
live there.
What type of succession would take place
if all the water from the pond evaporated
and the pond went dry?
Secondary Succession
Weeds  Grass  Small Shrubs  Hardwood Forest