Ecological Succession

Ecological succession

Plants growing in an area over time

pioneer species

first organisms to arrive in an area and usually grow on rock(Lichen and Moss)

climax community

Last stage of succession; most stable/balanced ecosystem; number of species plateaus or remains constant

primary succession

occurs in an area that has not previously been inhabited and usually has no soil (ex. bare rock surfaces from recent volcanic lava flows, rock faces that have been scraped clean by glaciers, or a city street)

secondary succession

changes in community begging w/ disturbance; soil is already present in the beginning

microhabitats

a smaller area within a habitat that has specific conditions

biodiversity

Many different plants and animals living in an area.

sustainability

Ability of an ecosystem to survive and continue to be a good and viable ecosystem for future generations.

equilibrium

The balance in an ecosystem that exists when a climax community is reached.

erosion

soil or sediment being washed away usually with water from one place to another

deposition

when the soil or sediment is being dropped off in a different location after erosion

abrasion

The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, or wind

Sustainability

The ability to keep in existence or maintain. A sustainable ecosystem is one that can be maintained