top of page

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Temporal changes are a type of change that will occur over a certain period of time which is to allow or affect the stability of an ecosystem or habitat.

 

The process linked with temporal

changes is ecological succession.

Succession is the study of temporal

change in communities, following a

disturbance which is looked at using

a temporal scale that corresponds to

one to ten times the life span of the

organisms (Walker, 2014).

 

 

 

What are the predicted

temporal changes?

Over a certain period of time

communities may be subject

into potential temporal changes.
The changes can occur in many different named communites and at any time. In relation to the Borneo forests ,many predicted changes have occured.

What is temporal changes?

Skyline plot showing temporal changes in genetic diversity in bowhead whales (Foote, 2013)

What is ecological succession?

 Ecological succession is the process in which the structure of a biological community evolves over time. In some environments succession can reach a climax. This climax can produce a stable community which will only be dominated by a small number of species (Thompson, 2014).
The changes of these are predictable and orderly.

 

Within an ecological community, the species composition will change over time as species will become more prominent where as others may fade out (extinction). As each community develops further over time, the vegetation will grow rapidly, leaving the community to become more established than ever (Chow, 2015).
Nothing remains the same and habitats are constantly changing.

Image of ecological succession

(Chow, 2015).

An example of succession would be when there is an open water area e.g. a lake or pond and this eventually will become a climax woodland from the buildup.

Open fresh water > Submerged plants > swap > marsh > alder/willow carr > climax woodland (Countryside, 2016).

 

Two different types of succession have been distinguished these are:

  • Primary succession and

  • Secondary succession

 

However, succession will not go any further than the climax community. This is the final stage.

Primary succession:

This is when an ecological community first enters a new form of habitat that has not been present before. An example of this would include; a habitat being created when granite is removed from a quarry. The rock which is left behind begins to alter which therefore becomes the new habitat. The environment that grows within this habitat is known to be the primary stage (Ecological succession, 2015).

 

Secondary succession:

Secondary succesion occurs in areas where life of organisms once existed but has then been destroyed (Scienceclarified, 2016). Example of secondary succession include areas which have been cleared of existing vegetation e.g. after tree-felling in a woodland and/or destruction from fires.
It is usually much quicker than primary succession which is because of;

  • There is already an existing seed bank of suitable plants in the soil

  • Root systems are not disturbed in the soil, stumps and other plant parts

  • The fertility and structure of the soil has also already been substantially modified by previous organisms, which makes it more suitable for growth and colonization (establishment) (Countryside, 2016).

“Ecological succession, a fundamental concept in ecology, refers to more-or-less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community” (ScienceDaily, 2016).

  • Logging, land-clearing and conversion activities are considered to be the biggest threats to Borneo and are of particular concern in the conversion of natural forests to oil palm and timber plantations (WWF, 2015)

  • As palm oil is the cheapest vegetable oil, the demand for this as a source of food and energy is expected to rise rapidly. The demand for food alone is expected to double in the next decade (WWF, 2015)

  • As forests are opened up by humans, they dry out and are increasingly susceptible to fires, which among other problems cause dangerous atmospheric haze (WWF, 2015)

  • Climate change - predictions were made that under 36% of the Bornean mammals are set to lose 30% or more of their habitat by the year 2080, with the lowland forests being hit the hardest. However, when the effects of future deforestation were added, the impacts were even more severe, increasing the proportion of species to lose comparable habitat to 30-49% (Berkel, 2015)

  • Human activities, especially conversion and degradation of habitats, are causing global biodiversity declines(Newbold, 2015).

Map of Borneo - Forest loss (WWF, 2015).

*****************************************
bottom of page