Succession: the regular displacement of one species over
another species.
Pioneer Species: the first organisms to live in a new
habitat.
Climax Community: the “final group” of organisms to inhabit
an area.
Two Types of Succession
1) Primary Succession: Takes place where plants have
not grown before. Pretty much just dirt.
Objective: 1) Draw a picture that
illustrates the principle of succession. Label
pioneer and climax species. 2) Create a
food web that has the different trophic
levels labeled.
2) Succession that takes place in an area where
there has already been previous growth, such as an
abandoned field.
http://www.mos.org/oceans/graphics/life/foodchain.jpg
http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/images/vegetation/trees/forest_succession.gif
http://www.normanbirdsanctuary.org/nbu/succession/graphics/succession01.gif
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
All organisms are classified as either producers or
consumers
Producers: Organisms that capture energy and make food
Trophic Levels: Energy levels assigned to organisms based upon
how they acquire energy
Food Chain or Web: The path that energy flows through the
trophic levels.
Example: plant
Consumers: Organisms that consume plants or other
organisms to obtain energy.
Example: animals
1st Trophic Level = Producers (Plants)
2nd Trophic Level = Herbivores (Cows)
3rd Trophic Level = Carnivores ( Wolves)
4th Trophic Level = Carnivores that Eat Carnivores (Great
White Shark)
More Trophic Levels may be included.
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http://www7.taosnet.com/platinum/media/images/trophicleveldiagram.jpeg
http://fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/foodchain.jpg
In reality, things get a little bit more complicated since
not every consumer is a strict carnivore.
Examples:
1) Omnivore: eats both plants and animals
Examples: Bears and humans
2) Detrivores: obtain energy from organic waste and dead
bodies
Examples: worms, fungus, and bacteria
3) Decomposer: Breaks down waste/bodies,allowing
nutrients to be recycled into the environment.
Examples: Bacteria and Fungi
http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~chyn/age2062/lect/lect_28/40_07.GIF
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