How do you think mature forests, such as the temperate rainforests of coastal British Columbia, change over time? Write your answer on the lines below.
◆ How do organisms adapt to change? ? Create an Outline In natural selection, the best-adapted members of a species Create an outline highlighting survive to reproduce. These individuals may pass favourable the typical changes that occur characteristics on to their offspring. As abiotic and biotic in an ecosystem undergoing primary succession. components of their environment change, adaptive radiation may result. This term describes the change from a common ancestor into a number of different species that “radiate out” to inhabit different niches. For example, 13 species of finches that fill different niches on the Galapagos Islands are thought to have developed from a single species from mainland South America. ● ✔
● ✔ Reading Check 1. What is adaptive radiation? How do ecosystems change over time? Ecological succession refers to changes that take place over time in the types of organisms that live in an area. There are two types of ecological succession: 1. Primary succession: Primary succession occurs in areas where no soil exists, such as following glaciation or a lava flow. Wind and rain carry spores of lichens to these areas. Lichens obtain nutrients by secreting chemicals that break down rock. As lichens decay, they add organic matter to the developing soil. The first organisms to survive and reproduce in an area are called pioneer species. They are adapted to grow in harsh, nutrient-poor conditions. In time, often over hundreds of years, the weathering of rocks and decay of pioneer species cause soil formation. The abiotic conditions of the ecosystem continue to change as new species of plants and animals colonize the area, each competing for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight. More niches are created and biodiversity increases.
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Section Name Date 3.1 Summary
continued Eventually, primary succession leads to the development of mature climax communities, such as a boreal forest or grassland. 2. Secondary succession: Small disturbances, such a fire, often occur in ecosystems. Secondary succession— ● ✔ Reading Check 2. Describe the difference succession that occurs as a result of a disturbance to an between primary and area that already has soil and was once the home of living secondary succession. organisms—occurs as a result. It proceeds much faster than primary succession since micro-organisms, insects, seeds, and nutrients still exist in the soil. ● ✔
How do natural events affect ecosystems?
Natural events can destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity, and cause regions to undergo succession. Some examples include: • flooding: results in soil erosion, pollution, and disease when toxins or harmful bacteria from untreated sewage enter drinking water • drought: plants and animals die due to lack of water • insect infestations: often result in succession in forests because insects destroy older, weaker trees • tsunamis: huge, rapidly moving ocean waves destroy habitats and salt water carried onto shore changes soil composition
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Cloze Name Date Activity Section 3.1 Use with textbook pages 108–117.
Change in ecosystems Vocabulary adaptive radiation natural selection climax community pioneer species drought primary succession ecological succession secondary succession flooding tsunami insect infestations
Use terms in the vocabulary box to fill in the blanks. Use each term only once. 1. In the process of , living organisms change as the abiotic and biotic components in their environment change.
2. describes the change from a common ancestor into a number
of different species that “radiate out” to inhabit different niches. 3. Scientists use the term to refer to changes that take place over time in the types of organisms that live in an area.
4. occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as on bare rock.
5. The lichens and others plants that are the first organisms to survive and reproduce in an area are known as .
6. The process of primary succession leads to the development of a mature community,
which is sometimes called a .
7. occurs as the result of a disturbance to an area that already
has soil and was once the home of living organisms.
8. can result in soil erosion and soil pollution if toxic chemicals
are present in floodwaters.
9. is a huge, rapidly moving ocean wave.
10. can result in crop failures and livestock deaths. 11. , such as the mountain pine beetle in the forests of British Columbia, have a devastating effect on the forest canopy, and bird and mammal habitats.
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Name Date Assessment Section 3.1
Use with textbook pages 108–117.
How changes occur
naturally in ecosystems Match each Term on the left with the best Descriptor on the right. Each Descriptor may be 7. Each of these finches from the Galapagos used only once. Islands has evolved different shapes and Term Descriptor sizes of beaks. This is an example of: 1. adaptive A. a mature commu- A. primary succession radiation nity that continues to 2. climax change over time B. secondary succession community B. the development C. bioremediation 3. ecological of a number of new succession species from a com- D. adaptive radiation 4. natural selection mon ancestor 5. pioneer species C. organisms, such as lichens and other plants, that are the first to survive and repro- duce in an area 0 Years 300 Years D. changes that take place over time in the 8. The diagram above represents which of the types of organisms that following: live in an area A. adaptive radiation E. the process in which, over time, the best B. climax community adapted members of a C. ecological succession species will survive and D. natural succession reproduce 9. An example of a pioneer species would be Circle the letter of the best answer. A. moss 6. The process that makes change possible in living things is B. lichen
