Ecological Succession and Managing Succession | AQA A-Level Environmental Science Revision | Primrose Kitten

Ecological succession

Process of species colonizing uninhabited areas in stages (seres).

Seres

Stages within the process of ecological succession.

Hydrosere

Succession occurring in a water body.

Lithosere

Succession occurring on a rock.

Psammosere

Succession occurring on sand.

Pioneer species

Organisms like lichens and mosses that colonize uninhabited areas with hostile conditions.

Abiotic conditions

Non-living factors that affect the environment.

Climax community

Final community consisting of dominant species that remains stable if climate remains the same.

Biodiversity

The variety of species in an area, which increases as succession continues.

How do temperature extremes change as succession progresses?

They decrease as temp becomes more stable

How does water availability change as succession continues?

It increases

How might light levels change as succession progresses?

Decrease if climax community is a forest/woodland due to increased shade by the canopy.

How might nutrient availability change as succession progresses?

Increase as soil forms and increased DOM available

How does the rate of change differ as succession progresses

Rapid changes at first, slowing down and stabilizing at the climax community.

Primary succession

Succession occurring on bare land.

Secondary succession

Faster succession occurring in areas with existing soil, usually after a disturbance like a forest fire.

Plagioclimax community

Managed community where succession is prevented by human activity to conserve a specific species.

Coppicing

Cutting trees down to ground level to prevent larger species from colonizing.

Mowing

Removing larger species to prevent grass from overtaking an area.

Grazing

Allowing livestock to graze on larger species to prevent colonization.

Burning

Burning larger plants intermittently to prevent colonization in moor habitats.

Transect

Line placed through a habitat to measure changes along that line

Standardized experiment

An experiment with controlled variables and procedures to ensure consistent and reliable results.