Zonation / Succession

Zonation

changes in communities along the environmental environmental gradient

Types of zonation

• altitude

• latitude

• soil horizons

Succession

the replacement of one community by another in an area over time due to changes in biotic and abiotic conditions

Primary succession

succession that occurs over hundreds of years on a layer or surface that has not previously been occupied by an ecological community

Pioneer community

the initial community that forms during succession, usually made up of small vegetation. they contain r-strategists

Intermediate community

community that forms between pioneer and climax communities. there is more productivity, temperature and sunlight less extreme, and it starts to stabalize

Climax communities

final community formed during the sucession. Steady state equilibrium. Where k-strategists live

R-strategists

organisms that have high reproductive rates and rapid development in unstable environments. They provide little parental care, maximizes chances pf survival

K-strategists

organisms with low reproductive rates, thrive in stable environments, have parental care

Secondary succession

occurs in an area where soil is already in place, but there has been a natural, human disturbance to the ecosystem