Ecological Succession Lab

STUDENT Ecological Succession Lab TOPIC 2 Describe changes in ecosystems resulting fromseasonal variations, climate change, and succession INTRODUCTION: Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances. As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further changes in the community. This series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time is called ecological succession. Primary succession is the series of community changes which occur on an entirely new habitat which has never been colonized before. For example, when an ice melts to expose the underneath land or a volcano erupts to create new land. Secondary succession is the series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat. For example, land clearance or a fire. MATERIALS: Adapt lab to save time as needed. 4 2 diagrams 5 Glue stick 6 Scissors PROCEDURES: 8 Cut along the lines on the 2 diagrams. 9 Mix the pieces together. 10 Arrange the primary succession diagram in the correct order. 11 Glue them in the proper order on your paper (under the label primary succession). 12 Arrange the secondary succession diagram in the correct order. 13 Glue them in the proper order on your paper (under the label secondary succession). 14 Answer the questions. Primary Succession: Conduct Activity Secondary Succession: Conduct Activity CONCLUSION ORAL PRESENTATION: 12 What is ecological succession? ______________________________________________________________ 13 How is primary and secondary succession different? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 14 How is primary and secondary succession the same? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What is the first group of organisms to colonize an area called? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What species is able to live on bare rock? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ List the communities in a successional sequence of primary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ List the communities in a successional sequence of secondary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What is the first species in secondary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Why does primary succession take longer than secondary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ List some events that would start primary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ List some events that would start secondary succession? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________