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    2011 Lecture 4b Ecosystem Dynamics II

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    John Zephyr Tyska
    This document summarizes key concepts around ecosystem dynamics, including patterns of zonation, succession, and disturbances at the landscape level. It discusses how communities change over distance and time due to environmental gradients and succession. Four principles of zonation and succession are outlined. Key terms like ecotone, site, and primary/secondary succession are defined. The roles of disturbances like fire and their effects on creating mosaics of communities at different successional stages are also summarized.

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    2011 Lecture 4b Ecosystem Dynamics II

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    John Zephyr Tyska
    43 views33 pages
    This document summarizes key concepts around ecosystem dynamics, including patterns of zonation, succession, and disturbances at the landscape level. It discusses how communities change over distance and time due to environmental gradients and succession. Four principles of zonation and succession are outlined. Key terms like ecotone, site, and primary/secondary succession are defined. The roles of disturbances like fire and their effects on creating mosaics of communities at different successional stages are also summarized.

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    This document summarizes key concepts around ecosystem dynamics, including patterns of zonation, succession, and disturbances at the landscape level. It discusses how communities change over distance and time due to environmental gradients and succession. Four principles of zonation and succession are outlined. Key terms like ecotone, site, and primary/secondary succession are defined. The roles of disturbances like fire and their effects on creating mosaics of communities at different successional stages are also summarized.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    43 views33 pages

    2011 Lecture 4b Ecosystem Dynamics II

    Uploaded by

    John Zephyr Tyska
    This document summarizes key concepts around ecosystem dynamics, including patterns of zonation, succession, and disturbances at the landscape level. It discusses how communities change over distance and time due to environmental gradients and succession. Four principles of zonation and succession are outlined. Key terms like ecotone, site, and primary/secondary succession are defined. The roles of disturbances like fire and their effects on creating mosaics of communities at different successional stages are also summarized.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 33

    Ecosystem Dynamics II

    NR216 Introductory Ecology


    February 1, 2011

    E&FB Ch 20, 21, 22 & 23


    Kimmins’ “Balancing Act” Chapter 5 pp. 17 - 20
    Focus is on
    Community Dynamics
    Ecosystems and their communities change -

    over distance &


    over time
    which leads to :

    Patterns of Zonation & Succession


    Patterns of Zonation & Succession
    FOUR PRINCIPLES
    1. The fundamental niche of a species is the
    most important factor :
    where does it grow (distribution) &
    how much is there (abundance)
    2. “Species vary in their fundamental niches” because
    they have different sets of environmental tolerances
    3. “environmental conditions change in both time &
    space”
    4. Species interactions affect the fundamental niche
    (realized niche)
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation
    Zonation : change over distance in response to
    environmental gradient ie.
    • Temperature
    • Moisture
    • Elevation & altitude
    • Latitude
    Patterns of zonation in a salt marsh E&FB p. 405
    Distribution of tree species along an elevational transect E&FB p.399
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation

    Ecocline :
    • the sequence of biotic communities
    • & associated physical environment
    • along a major environmental gradient, like
    elevation or latitude
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation
    Clinal Variation (in species) :
    • Variation in physiological characteristics such
    as time of bud flush of plants/trees or
    seasonal coat colour change of some animals
    • Genetic basis
    • Seasonal fluctuation
    • Diurnal variation
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation
    Ecotone :
    • “The interface or zone of transition between
    two plant communities that differ in life form
    or in species composition, or both.”
    • “A zone of tension between two different
    communities characterized by higher
    environmental, species & structural diversity
    than the adjacent communities”
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation
    Site:
    Any physical or chemical condition or factor that sets the
    potential for vegetation development, net PP and
    accompanying animal & microbial communities.
    ie.
    • soil & geology
    • topography (aspect/slope, slope position, elevation)
    • slope stability
    • hydrology
    • cold air drainage & frost pockets
    • fire risk
    • wind exposure
    Community Dynamics:
    Patterns of Zonation
    Classify Site :
    • Site Index – tree growth potential
    • Ecological Land Classification – vegetation
    community potential
    • Wildlife habitat potential
    • Some other objective or goal for
    forest/watershed/land management
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Process of change in an ecosystem, over time
    • Complex interactions among plants, animals &
    microbes (ie. pioneering species may make it
    easier for other species to grow or may make
    it difficult for other species to grow;
    sometimes both)
    • Sere or seral stage = product of succession
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    A sere is the sequence of ecosystems that
    successively replace each other on a given
    area of land, over time.
     
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Each stage in that sere :
    • Different plant associations (species
    composition & community structure)
    • Different age structure of dominant vegetation
    (ie. even-aged, un-even aged trees)
    • Different microclimate, soil, forest conditions
    • Different animal communities
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Pioneering stage Mid-seral stages Late seral stages

    Pioneering Transitional Sub-climax Climax

    • relatively stable
    • self-replicating
    • reproduce in own
    shade
    •uneven-aged
    • same species mix &
    balance
     
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    • Primary succession from bare rock or water
    (E&FB pp.408ff.) more

    • Secondary succession reestablishment after


    short-term disturbance more
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Strongly influence by what was there before
    (root sprouts, seed banks)
    • Xerarch = dry/xeric
    • Edaphic = soil (dry or wet and/or acidic)
    • Mesarch = mesic
    • Pyric = fire (cyclical climax)
    • Hydrarch =wet/hydric
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Autogenic succession : E&FB pp.434-437
    Change caused by modification of
    environmental by plants growing there
    ie. bog forest
     
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Biogenic succession :
    animals/insects affect which plants survive
    ie.
    • spruce budworm
    • Tent caterpillar
    • grazing herbivores elephants
    Change over time :
    Ecological Succession
    Allogenic succession : E&FB pp.441-443
    Change caused by changes to the environment
    independent of living organisms
    • Climate change
    • Glaciation
    • Sedimentation in freshwater lakes more
    deep lake shallow lake
    Disturbances at the Landscape Level
    E&FB Ch. 23

    Typical landscape is
    • a mosaic of communities
    • at different successional stages and
    • occupying different habitats.
    “Rich, dynamic tapestry of vegetation,
    providing an array of habitats
    for animals & microbes”
    (Perry, Forest Ecosystems, p.169)
    Dynamics at the Landscape Level
    E&FB Ch. 23

    • Landscapes are composed of numerous


    community types

    • Corresponding to changes in elevation, aspect


    & soils…

    Zonation
    Dynamics at the Landscape Level
    E&FB Ch. 23

    • Patterns of disturbance and change over time


    • overlay this with another pattern;
    • succession sequence and timing
    is not always predictable.

    Succession
    Disturbances at the Landscape Level
    • fire (can be cyclical)

    • water, wind, (flooding, erosion)

    • volcanic eruption, landslides/avalanches

    • frost damage, insect/disease, harvesting

    • pollution (ie. acid rain)


    Disturbances at the Landscape Level
    Mosaics of “patches” (E&FB p.450)
    more
    Practices across landscapes - Canada's Forests
    Ecosystem-based management - Canada's Forests

    Edges (E&FB pp. 451-455) more


    salt marshes
    Disturbances at the Landscape Level
    • Disturbance major factor in ecosystems,
    especially in forests
    • Originate from
    – outside the ecosystem (ie. fire) or from
    – within the ecosystem (ie. native insect outbreaks);
    – often disturbances interact (ie. weather affects
    susceptibility to in populations of insects, insect
    damage increases incidence of fire)
    Disturbances at the Landscape Level
    Fire most common disturbance in wide variety
    of forest types :
    • Coniferous forests of N, W & S
    North America more
    • Eucalyptus forests of Australia more more
    • Dry tropical forests in South Africa
    & North America
    Fire Ecology
    Factors affecting natural fires :
    • Time of year
    • Quantity, condition & distribution of fuel
    • Prevailing climatic conditions (rain, wind,
    temperature)
    • Slope, aspect & elevation
    • Type of vegetation (species, species habit, age)
    • Type of soil
    Severity & intensity of fire
    Fire Ecology
    3 major Types of Fires;
    can occur in any combination

    • Ground fires

    • Surface fires

    • Crown fires
    Fire Ecology
    Ground fires
    • Largely flameless
    • Burns in OG matter/duff
    • Can be most destructive because kills &
    consumes roots, preventing root sprouts
    • Kills dormant seeds “banked” in site
    Fire Ecology
    Surface Fires
    • Move quickly, burn litter & above-ground
    portions of herbs & shrubs
    • Often sprouting from roots after
    • Often doesn’t kill trees, esp. those with thicker
    bark
    Fire Ecology
    Crown fires
    • Burns crowns of woody vegetation
    • Often leaves most of woody stems & forest
    floor untouched
    Fire Ecology

    Technical Terms :
    • Intensity – rate of energy released
    • Severity – impact on organic matter
    • Rate of spread – speed leading edge travels
    downwind

    eg. High intensity/low severity


    From Ashes to Forest by Tony Ianzelo - NFB

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