ESS Strandard Topic 2.5

Zonation & Succession

How many zones do Kite Diagrams take into account?

3-4 zones

What are population stages known as?

Sere’s

What is the first sere known as?

Pioneer community - The first colonists brought in by the sub areal processes & passing animals/birds carrying / breaking down rock for nutients

Examples of 1st colonists

• Lichen

• Mosses

• Bacteria

• Legumes

How do Pioneer Communities transition to Climax communities?

As mosses etc. die and decay they add organic matter and this starts to create soil allowing larger and larger plants to colonies. Overtime the soil becomes deeper and it stores more water and nutrients allowing there to be bigger roots for bigger organisms. Increasing Biodiversity

Climax community?

Most Complex ecosystem that can be supported depending on the ecosystems biome.

Zonation

The Change in community over distance

Succession

A Directional change in populations (community over time) Indicating a change in Carrying Capacity

What is the importance of deep soil in an ecosystem?

Climax communities can only form when there is deep, fertile mineral rich soil. This wont happen in shallow soil.

How does temperature effect productivity?

Complexity and Productivity will be less in hot or cold biomes because the soil could dry up and blow away or not decompose in order to release nutrients.

What is the relationship between Niches and Resilience

More niches and more habitat diversity makes a system more resilient

What are the 3 indicators of Biodiversity

• Genetic Diversity

• Species Diversity

• Habitat Diversity

Primary Succession

The type of ecological succession that occurs in a barren lifeless habitat.

Secondary Succession

When an established community is disrupted but then recovers at a faster rate than primary succession.

What is Secondary Succession caused by?

• forest fires, landslides (Natural)

• Deforestation, grazing (Human)

Why is Secondary Succession faster than Primary Succession?

• Soil is already established

• Soil contains seeds, spores & living roots/eggs and animals in surrounding areas

Why are roots important?

They stabilise the soil and make it less prone to erosion even in severe flooding

What can reduce biodiversity?

Deforestation and heavy tilling in intensive farming

What happens in a complex community when some species reduce significantly in population?

By re establishing the bio geochemical cycles of the surviving species provide time for missing populations to recolonise