PALENCIA, Ferlene D.

Introduction to Encironmental Engineering

1. What is Ecological Succession?

"Ecological succession" is a term developed by botanists to describe the change in structure of
a community of different species, or ecosystem. Two different types of succession—primary and
secondary—have been distinguished.
Primary succession occurs in essentially lifeless areas—regions in which the soil is incapable of
sustaining life as a result of such factors as lava flows, newly formed sand dunes, or rocks left from a
retreating glacier. For example, a newly quarried rock face or sand dunes.
Secondary succession occurs in areas where a community that previously existed has been removed; it is
typified by smaller-scale disturbances that do not eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment. For
example, after felling trees in a woodland, land clearance or a fire.

2. What is Climax Community?

In the concept of ecological succession, ecosystems advance until they reach a climax community. In the
climax community, all of the resources are efficiently used and the total mass of vegetation maxes out
which produces a stable community dominated by a small number of prominent species. This state
of equilibrium, called the climax community, is thought to result when the web of interactions between the
members of the biological community becomes so intricate that no other species can be admitted. Because
changes in climate, ecological processes, and evolutionary processes cause changes in
the environment over very long periods of time, the climax stage is not completely permanent. . Many
forests that have not been disturbed in many years are examples of a climax community.

3. Terrestrial Ecosystem
It is a type of ecosystem found only on biomes. Seven primary terrestrial ecosystems
exist: tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, grassland , deserts. Taigas are the
world's largest terrestrial ecosystem and account for about 29% of the Earth's forests.It is the major
agroecosystem of India and is predominately controlled by human activities for maximizing the food
production with nitrogen (N) as the most widely used input. It is distinguished from aquatic ecosystems by
the lower availability of water and the consequent importance of water as a limiting factor. Terrestrial
ecosystems are characterized by greater temperature fluctuations on both a diurnal and seasonal basis than
occur in aquatic ecosystems in similar climates.

4. Aquatic Ecosystem
It is an ecosystem in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on
their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine
ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems. It support a wide range of organisms, including microorganisms,
invertebrates, insects, plants, and fish. Some hydrologists work in understanding the trophic systems
within aquatic ecosystems and their health as a function of environmental conditions such as water
temperature and turbidity.

References:
https://biologydictionary.net/ecological-succession/
https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/succession.htm
https://www.britannica.com/science/ecological-succession
http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/successn/summary.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_ecosystem
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/terrestrial-ecosystem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystem
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/aquatic-ecosystem