ERT-2.J—Describe the effect of ecological succession on ecosystems

Describe the effect of ecological succession on ecosystems.

• Pioneer members of an early successional species commonly move into unoccupied habitat and over time adapt to its particular conditions, which may result in the origin of new species.
• Succession in a disturbed ecosystem will affect the total biomass, species richness, and net productivity over time.
• Enduring understanding ERT-2: Ecosystems have structure and diversity that change over time.