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