IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 2.5D Community and Productivity in Succession Revision Notes (HL)

IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 2.5D Community and Productivity in Succession Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

What Shapes the Community That Develops During Succession

The community that develops during succession is not random.
It is shaped by abiotic factors (climate, soil, topography, disturbance) and biotic factors (grazing, predation, competition).
Together these decide which species establish, survive, and dominate, and so what the climax community looks like.

Abiotic Factors Set the Physical Limits

Climate
1. Temperature, rainfall, and seasonality set the pace of succession and the final community type.
2. Warm, wet climates drive fast succession to forest; cold or arid climates slow it to tundra or shrubland.
Bedrock and soil
1. Parent rock and soil set nutrient supply, pH, drainage, and texture.
2. Rich soils speed succession toward forest; thin, acidic, or nutrient-poor soils slow it and favour heath or shrubland.
3. Waterlogged, poorly drained ground limits oxygen to roots and forms wetlands.
Geomorphology
1. Steep slopes erode and hold little soil, supporting only hardy shallow-rooted plants; flat ground builds deep soil and dense forest.
2. Aspect matters: in the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing slopes are warmer and drier, north-facing slopes cooler and moister.
Fire and extreme weather
1. Fires, storms, and floods reset succession by clearing vegetation and releasing nutrients.
2. In fire-adapted systems, periodic fire maintains biodiversity by stopping a few species dominating.

Example

In tropical climates, warm temperatures and high rainfall push pioneers quickly to shrubs and then mature forest.
In Arctic tundra, cold and permafrost make succession extremely slow because soil forms so slowly.

Biotic Factors Steer the Trajectory

Living interactions, especially grazing and predation, can reshape the path of succession.

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What Shapes the Community That Develops During Succession

The community that develops during succession is not random.
It is shaped by abiotic factors (climate, soil, topography, disturbance) and biotic factors (grazing, predation, competition).
Together these decide which species establish, survive, and dominate, and so what the climax community looks like.

Abiotic Factors Set the Physical Limits

Climate
1. Temperature, rainfall, and seasonality set the pace of succession and the final community type.
2. Warm, wet climates drive fast succession to forest; cold or arid climates slow it to tundra or shrubland.
Bedrock and soil
1. Parent rock and soil set nutrient supply, pH, drainage, and texture.
2. Rich soils speed succession toward forest; thin, acidic, or nutrient-poor soils slow it and favour heath or shrubland.
3. Waterlogged, poorly drained ground limits oxygen to roots and forms wetlands.
Geomorphology
1. Steep slopes erode and hold little soil, supporting only hardy shallow-rooted plants; flat ground builds deep soil and dense forest.
2. Aspect matters: in the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing slopes are warmer and drier, north-facing slopes cooler and moister.
Fire and extreme weather
1. Fires, storms, and floods reset succession by clearing vegetation and releasing nutrients.
2. In fire-adapted systems, periodic fire maintains biodiversity by stopping a few species dominating.

Example

In tropical climates, warm temperatures and high rainfall push pioneers quickly to shrubs and then mature forest.
In Arctic tundra, cold and permafrost make succession extremely slow because soil forms so slowly.

Biotic Factors Steer the Trajectory

Living interactions, especially grazing and predation, can reshape the path of succession.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

IB Environmental systems and societies 2.5D Community and Productivity in Succession Notes

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

What Shapes the Community That Develops During Succession

Abiotic Factors Set the Physical Limits

Biotic Factors Steer the Trajectory

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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What Shapes the Community That Develops During Succession

Abiotic Factors Set the Physical Limits

Biotic Factors Steer the Trajectory

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account