Succession
Limiting Factors
• Any biotic or abiotic factors that restrict the existence, numbers,
reproduction or distribution
• Abiotic examples- sunlight, nutrients, soil, etc
• Biotic examples- other plant and animal species
Succession
• Orderly, natural changes that take place in the communities of an
ecosystem over time
• Older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in
1.
Primary Succession
• Colonization of new sites by communities of organisms where
no soil exists
• Ex) Volcano
• Which leads to:
• Pioneer species- the first species to inhabit an area
• Climax community- stable mature community that
undergoes little or no succession. Often does not occur due to ever
changing climate
2.
Secondary Succession
• Sequence of community changes that takes place when a
community is disrupted by natural disaster or human actions
• Community of organisms inhabiting an area gradually change
• Takes less time to reach climax community than primary
• Ex) Forest fire in 1988 in Yellowstone National Park