Ecology ch. 18 terms

replacement of one community by another; often progesses to a stable community called the climax

the series of successional stages on a given site that lead to a terminal community

following a series of stages; a point in a continuum of vegetation through time

plant species characterized by high dispersal rates, ability to colonize disturbed sites, short life span, and shade intolerance

long-lived, shade-tolerant plant species that supplant early successional species

vegetable development starting on a new site never before colonized by life

development of vegetation after a disturbance

self-generated; succession driven in a predominantly inorganic environment with early and continued dominance of green plants

refers to successional change brought about by a change in the physical environment

groups of sites within the same area that are in different stages of succession

the concept that species diversity is greatest in those habitats experiencing a moderate amount of disturbance, allowing the coexistence of early and late successional species

study of ecology of past communities by means of the fossil records

late successional community that is stable and persists until disrupted by some disturbance

have high species diversity, well-developed spatial structure, and complex food webs

have a balance between CO2 output and usage (photosynthesis), energy captured and energy released, and nutrients absorbed and released

1. shade-intolerant herbaceous species inhabits new area
2. this community makes shade
3. shade-tolerant shrubs begin to grow under the shade-intolerant plants
4. shade-intolerant plants die, but their offspring can't grow in the shade of the shrubs
5. shrubs alter the soil, allowing trees to germinate and grow
6. trees out-compete the shrubs and become the climax community

greatest species diversity occurs at transition points-mix of old species and new species
supports intermediate disturbance hypothesis

changes in plant community create changes in habitat, new habitats have their own sets of animal species

later successional plants have more vertical structure, providing more habitat complexity, which increases animal diversity

affects of plants: increase depth of soil horizons, organic content of soil, nitrogen concentration, remove phosphorus

other: increase in soil moisture, biomass, primary production, respiration, nutrient retention of plants, decrease soil pH