Ecosystem

Succession

Changes to a community following a disturbance

What are the two types of succession

Primary and secondary

Primary succession

Occurs on newly exposed soil

Secondary succession

Occurs on undisturbed soil

Resilience

Ecosystems ability to return to original structure and function following a disturbance

Resistance

Ecosystems ability to maintain structure and function during potential disturbance

What are the biotic components of an ecosystems structure

Species composition, strata, dispersion, density

What are the abiotic components of an ecosystems structure

Debris, rocks, topography, soil nutrient levels

What components of diversity are found within ecosystems

Genetic, organismal, ecological

Functional group

Groups of organisms that perform ecological functional roles

Pioneer community

First organisms to colonize a disturbed area

What happened to glacier bay after facing disturbance

Primary succession , increased species diversity and composition , increased soil depth and nutrients

Why is the main benefit of ecological restoration, compared to succession?

Restoration can take years while succession can take decades