HTML University

Science Dept.

Biology BIO 100
Terrestrial And Aquatic Succession

1. Definition: A Series of Uniform Vegetational Changes Through Time; the Process of Recovery from Disturbance

2. Natural Disturbances
   1. Volcanic Activity
      
   2. Earthquakes
      
   3. Fire
      
   4. Flood
      
   5. Glaciers
      
   6. Severe Erosion
      
   7. Landslides
      
   8. Drought
      
   9. Disastrous storms
      
   10. Change of Climate
       
   11. Tectonic Activity
       
   12. Biological agents

3. Climax: The "Final" Occupants that Make Up a Stable Self-Reproducing Community

4. Changes
   1. Structural Changes
      1. Changes in Species Composition

      2. Changes in Species Diversity

   2. Functional Changes
      1. Progressive Increase in Biomatter

      2. Better Utilization of Water Cycling

      3. Better Utilization of Nutrient Cycling

      4. Better Utilization of Energy

      5. Increased Number of Symbioses

      6. More and More Complex Food Web

5. Terrestrial Succession
   1. Primary Land Succession
      1. In a New Environment or in any Area Devoid of Organisms

      2. After the Ice Age

      3. The Colonization of Bare Rock: Lichens --> Mosses --> Herbs --> Shrubs --> Trees

   2. Secondary Land Succession
      1. IFC Initial Floristic Composition
         1. Initial Flora Would Return if the Disturbance Was Not Continued

         2. If for Example, a Yellow Birch, Beech, Maple Area Were Cut, The Area Would Tend to Regenerate the Original Composition

      2. RF Relay Floristics
         1. When Disturbances Are Persistant, the Original Composition Is Discouraged from Returning and Ceases to Exist

         2. If for Example, a Woodlot Is Cut for Pasture then the Original Flora Is Discouraged from Returning. Later, When Succession Starts, the Original Flora Is Not Present and Other Species Will Start the Succession

         3. A Typical RF Succession in Northern New England Might Be:
            Grass --> Herbs --> Shrubs --> Poplars --> Conifers --> Yellow Birch, Beech, Maple

6. Aquatic Sucession
   1. From the Pond to the Shore:
      1. Non-Rooted Floating such as Duckweed

      2. Rooted Submergent such as Tape Grass

      3. Rooted Floating such as Water Lilies

      4. Rooted Emergent such as Wild Rice, Reeds, Cattails

      5. Shrubs such as Alders Red-Ozier Dogwood

      6. Trees such as Willow, Elms, Red Maple, Tamarack, Black Spruce

   2. Pond or Lake Fills in:
      1. From the Bottom Up Because of Sediment Accumulation

      2. From the Sides in Because of Gradually Spreading Vegetation

   3. Classification of Wetlands and Deep Water Habitats of the United States

   4. 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual