Colonisation and Succession in an Ecosystem
Colonisation and Succession in an Ecosystem 1. Ecosystem is a community of organisms which interact with their non-living environment and function as a unit. 2. Habitat is a natural environment where organisms live. Also provide shelter, food, living space, nesting sites and mates. 3. Species is a group of organisms that look alike and have similar characteristics, share the same roles in an ecosystem and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring. 4. Population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat at the same time. 5. Community is a several populations of different species living in the same habitat in an ecosystem. 6. A niche of organism is its role in the ecosystem. The niche of a population includes the range of temperature at which it lives, the type of food it eats and the space it occupies.
Colonisation and succession
1. Colonisation takes place in newly formed areas where no life previously existed. 2. Pioneer species : first colonisers a. Characteristics: i. Special adaptations that enable to survive on dry and nutrient-poor soil. ii. Hardy plants which usually have dense root systems to bind sand particles and hold water and humus. iii. Short life cycle iv. When die, their remains add to the humus content of the soil. v. Modify the environment 3. Successor species b. Characteristics: vi. Plants grow bigger vii. Have small wind-dispersable seeds which are able to spread and grow rapidly. viii. Also change the structure and quality of the soil, making it more conducive for larger plants to grow. 4. Dominant species c. Characteristics: ix. Grow faster x. Modify the environment which allows larger trees to grow. xi. Shrubs forest-floor species (require lower light intensity) 5. Succession is the gradual process through which one
Colonisation and succession
1. Colonisation takes place in newly formed areas where no life previously existed. 2. Pioneer species : first colonisers a. Characteristics: i. Special adaptations that enable to survive on dry and nutrient-poor soil. ii. Hardy plants which usually have dense root systems to bind sand particles and hold water and humus. iii. Short life cycle iv. When die, their remains add to the humus content of the soil. v. Modify the environment 3. Successor species b. Characteristics: vi. Plants grow bigger vii. Have small wind-dispersable seeds which are able to spread and grow rapidly. viii. Also change the structure and quality of the soil, making it more conducive for larger plants to grow. 4. Dominant species c. Characteristics: ix. Grow faster x. Modify the environment which allows larger trees to grow. xi. Shrubs forest-floor species (require lower light intensity) 5. Succession is the gradual process through which one