resiliency of ecosystems

Resilient, Responsive

Robust Ecosystems Are ____ & ____

Ecosystems Recover From Disturbances

•Disturbances Are Temporary Changes In Conditions That Induce Ecosystem Changes

Many Types Of Disturbances Affect Ecosystems

Disease

Drought

Fire

Habitat Loss Due To -

• Draining, Logging, Mining, Trawling

Invasive Species

Lightning

Natural Hazards

• Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes,

Tornadoes, Wildfires

Overexploitation

Pollution

• Air, Soil, Water

Minor Disturbances

Ecosystems Experience Frequent ____ ____

 A Light Gap Is A Break In The Forest Canopy Or Similar Sunlight Barrier That Increases Light Penetration And

Enables Young Plants To Grow

• One Or More Branches Fall

• A Tree Falls

Ecological Succession

____ ____ Is A Complex Process

It Consists Of The Abiotic And Biotic Changes In An Area After -

•A Disturbance To An Ecosystem

•The Formation Of A(n) -

o Lifeless Area That Can Support Life

o Geologic Surface Without Life And Without Soil

Succession

Many Ecosystem Changes Occur During ____

Biomass Increase

Cellular Respiration Increase

Nutrient Retention Increase

Primary Production Increase

Soil Depth And Fertility Increase

Transition Of Species Including -

•Animal, Fungi, Plant, Prokaryote, Protist, And Virus

Species

Pioneer Community

The First Set Of Species To Colonize A

Habitat After -

• A Disturbance

• The Formation Of A Geologic

Surface

Their Traits Enable Initial Colonization

-

• Disperse Widely

• Rapid Growth

• Reproduce Prolifically

• Tolerate Harsh Conditions

• Transform The Environment

They Are Essential Ecosystem Engineers In

The Succession Process

Climax Community

This Set Of Species Colonizes After

Conditions Have Stabilized At A Late

Successional Stage And Persists Until A

Future Disturbance

Their Traits Include -

• Efficient Competitive Ability And

Resource Use

• Large Seeds

• Long Lifespans

• Shade Tolerance

• Slow Growth

Climax Communities Are Dynamic Rather

Than Static

Primary Succession At Glacier Bay, Alaska

 A Retreating Glacier Created A

Lifeless Geologic Surface Without

Soil

• This Event Induced Primary

Succession

Primary Succession

Many Soil Changes Occurred During ____ ____ At Glacier Bay

 Increased Depth, Moisture, Nitrogen Content, Organic Matter, And Species Diversity In The Soil

Fungi, Lichens, Plants

____, ____, & ____ Modify Soil In

Many Ways

Acidic Secretions By Lichens Degrade Rock To Begin

Soil Formation

Plant Roots Secrete Carbohydrates And Other

Chemicals That Facilitate Soil Formation

Soil Particles Are Bound Together By -

• Bacteria Biofilms

• Glycoproteins Secreted By Soil Fungi

The Four Major Stages Of Primary Succession At Glacier Bay

Total Species Number, Which Is Called

Species Richness, Increased Over Time

•Complex Plant-Based Habitat

Developed During Succession

o This Creates Ecological Niches For Many

Animal And Microbe Species

Marine

Primary Succession Occurs ____ Environments

 A Volcanic Disturbance Initiated 10 Succession In This Benthic Habitat

Secondary Succession

____ ____ Is Common In Terrestrial Ecosystems

 It’s Initiated By

Disturbances That Leave

The Soil Intact

Tidal Pool

Secondary Succession Occurs In ____ ____ Ecosystems

 Strong Wave Damage Initiated 20 Succession In This Ecosystem

• Recovery Was Monitored Over 18 Months

Seagrass Blowout

A “____ ____” Is A Sudden, Often Extensive Collapse Of A Seagrass Ecosystem

Major Seafloor Disturbances

Include -

• Anchoring

• Climate Change

• Coastal Development

• Dredging

• Trawling

Other Disturbances Include -

• Algal Blooms

• Propeller Scarring

Some Rules For Restoring Disturbed Coral Reef

Ecosystems

1) Respond Immediately To Habitat Loss Caused By

Hurricane Damage, Ship Groundings, etc.

2) Remove Any Invasive Species

3) Create Habitat For Indigenous Coral Species

4) Add Indigenous Coral Species

Secondary Succession On The ODU Campus

 In 2022, Lambert’s Point Golf Course Became Lambert’s Point Public Open Space