Ecological Succession and Disturbance (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to ecological succession, disturbances, resilience and stability, and examples from the notes.

Ecological Succession

A series of regular, predictable changes in the structure of a community over time, driven by interactions among organisms and their environment.

Primary Succession

Succession that follows a disturbance destroying all life and soil, leaving bare mineral surfaces; can take hundreds to thousands of years (volcanoes, glacial retreat, new land formation).

Secondary Succession

Succession in areas where soil remains after disturbance; progresses more quickly to a climax community (e.g., abandoned farmland, burned forests).

Pioneer Species

First colonizers of a barren area during succession (e.g., lichens and mosses on bare rock; coral polyps in aquatic environments).

Lichen

A pioneer organism that can live on bare rock and begins soil formation.

Coral Polyp

Pioneer organism in large aquatic environments that attaches to substrates and helps form the foundation for subsequent communities.

Climax Community

A relatively stable end-stage community of a succession, determined by climate (e.g., coniferous forests in cool regions; deciduous forests in temperate regions).

Ecological Disturbance

An event of intense environmental stress over a short time that causes large changes in an ecosystem; can be sudden or gradual.

Natural Disturbance

Disturbances caused by natural events (avalanches, fires, landslides, droughts, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions).

Human-Caused Disturbance

Disturbances resulting from human activities (non-native species introduction, habitat destruction, pollution, overhunting, overfishing, climate change).

Disturbance

Any event that disrupts normal ecosystem structure or function, varying in magnitude and duration.

Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance, showing minimal lasting change.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its original structure and function during a disturbance.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH)

Idea that biodiversity and resilience are highest at intermediate disturbance levels; low disturbance allows competitive exclusion, high disturbance reduces diversity.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in an area; contributes to ecosystem function and resilience.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, including food, timber, water purification, pollination, and protection from hazards.

Deforestation

Removal of forests that disrupts nutrient cycling, reduces litter input, increases leaching, and can lead to infertile soil.

Nutrient Cycling

Movement of essential elements (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon) through the ecosystem; disturbances can disrupt this process.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A stable state where ecosystems maintain relatively constant conditions despite ongoing fluctuations.

Aquatic Succession

Progression in aquatic systems (pond or lake) from open water to wet meadow to forest, culminating in a climax community.

Pioneer Stages

Early stages of succession (bare substrate → lichens → annuals → grasses) that build soil for later communities.

Old-Field Succession

Secondary succession that begins in abandoned fields, progressing from grasses and perennials to shrubs and eventually forest.