SUCCESSIONSuccession: The orderly changes of plant life

(producers) in an area.

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/succession.gif

PRIMARY CONSUMERS

The type of plants determine the order of primary consumers. (herbivores)

www.clermont.inra.fr/ urh/eng/eq_acs.htm

SECONDARY CONSUMERS

The primary consumers determine the order of secondary consumers.

http://www.oforest.on.ca/boreal/Plant%20and%20Animal%20Images/Secondary_Consumers.gif

PIONEER

Pioneers are the first of something in an area. The 1st plants in a field are called “pioneer”. Pioneer plants in an area are generally grasses.

http://giswetlands.ifas.ufl.edu/photos/BCM/Pioneer%20plants%20during%20drought%20on%20trail.jpg

HERBS AND FLOWERING PLANTS

Grasses die and decompose adding to the dirt layer.

Herbs and flowering plants enter. They grow taller than the grass. http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/students/

asztalos/buttercup.jpeg

BUSHES AND SHRUBS

Herbs and flowering plants will be killed off.

Next comes bushes and shrubs.

http://led.tamu.edu/photogallery/Projects/native%20shrubs.jpg

SOFTWOOD TREES

Next comes softwood trees. These are quick growing trees. An example would be the poplar tree.

CONIFER

Then comes in the conifer or evergreen tree.

http://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/rendering/csg-graphs/Pics/conifer2_1.JPG

CLIMAX SPECIES

Climax species - This is the final phase in succession. A climax species will be hardwood trees such as oak or maple.

http://home.comcast.net/~randy.wells/images/oak_tree_in_back_yard_morning_1.jpg

SECONDARY SUCCESSION

SECONDARY SUCCESSION

occurs when something causes the order to back up:

http://discover.edventures.com/images/termlib/s/secondary_succession/support.gif

CAUSES FOR SECONDARY SUCCESSION

National: fire, hurricane, tornado, comet impact, volcano eruption, tsunami, earthquake, ice age/glacier, floods

http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/desktopimages/western_US_forestfire_and_elk.jpg

CAUSES FOR SECONDARY SUCCESSION

Humans: deforestation, urbanization, farming,

http://universe-review.ca/I10-81-deforestation.jpg

SUMMARY OF SUCCESSION

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/succession.gif