Ecological Succession

Ecological succession involves understanding how ecosystems develop over time, which can feel abstract to students if taught as a static sequence. Active learning helps students visualize change and recognize patterns by engaging with real-world examples, making the concept more concrete and memorable.

• 12th Grade
• Biology
• 4 activities
• 20 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare and contrast the initial conditions, rates of change, and dominant species present during primary and secondary ecological succession.
2. Analyze the role of pioneer species in facilitating the establishment of later successional communities.
3. Predict the trajectory of species diversity and biomass accumulation through different stages of succession in a given ecosystem.
4. Evaluate the impact of specific disturbances, such as volcanic eruptions or deforestation, on the process of ecological succession.

Gallery Walk

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Before and After Succession Photos

Post paired photo sets around the room showing sites at different succession stages (e.g., Mount St. Helens 1980 vs. 2005 vs. today; old-field succession in the eastern US). Student pairs rotate, recording species present, estimated stage, and key evidence at each station. Groups then share observations and build a class timeline on the board.

Prepare & details

Explain how primary succession differs from secondary succession in terms of time and species composition.

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, assign small groups to specific photo stations to ensure all students contribute observations and questions.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Pioneer Species Trade-offs

Pose a scenario: a wildfire burns through a forest. Ask students individually to identify three characteristics a pioneer species would need to survive and reproduce first. Pairs compare lists, then the class consolidates a ranked list with reasons. Follow with a brief reading on nitrogen-fixing bacteria in early succession to test their predictions.

Prepare & details

Analyze the role of pioneer species in initiating ecological succession.

Facilitation Tip: In the Think-Pair-Share, provide a graphic organizer for students to record trade-offs of pioneer species, such as nutrient cycling versus water retention.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Jigsaw

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Jigsaw: Succession Case Studies

Assign small groups one of four case studies , Krakatoa recolonization, Yellowstone post-fire, Great Lakes sand dune succession, and Chesapeake Bay seagrass recovery. Each group reads their case, identifies succession type, key species, and rate of change, then teaches the class. Conclude with a structured comparison chart students complete individually.

Prepare & details

Predict the long-term changes in species diversity during different stages of succession.

Facilitation Tip: For the Jigsaw, structure case-study groups so each member presents a distinct perspective before synthesizing the full sequence.

Setup: Flexible seating for regrouping

Materials: Expert group reading packets, Note-taking template, Summary graphic organizer

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Experiential Learning

⏱ 30 min·Individual

Data Analysis: Species Diversity Across Time

Provide students with species richness and evenness data from longitudinal field studies at multiple succession stages. Students graph the data, identify trends, and write a claim-evidence-reasoning paragraph predicting what happens to diversity at the climax stage. Debrief as a class to address contradictions between datasets.

Prepare & details

Explain how primary succession differs from secondary succession in terms of time and species composition.

Facilitation Tip: When analyzing species diversity data, ask students to note trends in both species richness and evenness over time.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should emphasize the dynamic nature of succession by using longitudinal data rather than textbook diagrams. Avoid presenting succession as a linear, predictable endpoint; instead, highlight how disturbances like fire or human activity can reset or alter trajectories. Research suggests that students grasp succession more deeply when they analyze real datasets and discuss real-world case studies rather than relying on idealized models.

What to Expect

Students will confidently distinguish primary and secondary succession, identify pioneer species, and explain how disturbances shape ecosystem development. They will use evidence from activities to support their reasoning and connect concepts to real-world scenarios.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Gallery Walk, watch for students who assume all succession ends with a single, permanent climax community.

What to Teach Instead

Use the photo stations to guide students toward noticing evidence of disturbance, such as charred trees or human structures, and ask them to explain how these might restart succession.

Common Misconception

During the Jigsaw, listen for students who describe primary and secondary succession as simply faster or slower versions of the same process.

What to Teach Instead

Have groups compare their case studies side by side, focusing on the starting conditions (e.g., presence of soil) and how these differences impact pioneer species and timeline.

Common Misconception

During the Gallery Walk, students may assume pioneer species are always plants.

What to Teach Instead

Include photo stations with lichens, algae, or bacteria to prompt students to consider a broader range of pioneer organisms and their roles in nutrient cycling.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After students complete the Gallery Walk, present the two scenarios (glacier retreat and wildfire) and ask them to write one sentence identifying the type of succession and one sentence explaining their choice based on the photos they observed.

Discussion Prompt

During the Jigsaw, facilitate a class discussion using the prompt about rainforest clearing, asking groups to reference their case studies to explain species changes and the roles of facilitation and inhibition over time.

Exit Ticket

After the Data Analysis activity, provide the list of species and ask students to arrange them in order for primary and secondary succession, justifying their arrangements using the species diversity trends they observed in the data.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to design a successional timeline for an urban environment, such as a vacant lot or rooftop garden.
• For students who struggle, provide a partially completed succession diagram with key terms missing for them to fill in during the Gallery Walk.
• Offer students extra time to explore the role of keystone species in succession by researching a specific ecosystem, such as Yellowstone after wolf reintroduction.

Key Vocabulary

Ecological Succession	The gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, involving the replacement of one community of organisms by another.
Primary Succession	Ecological succession that begins in an environment devoid of life and soil, such as on bare rock or sand dunes.
Secondary Succession	Ecological succession that occurs in an area where a community previously existed but has been removed by a disturbance, such as fire or logging.
Pioneer Species	The first species to colonize a barren or disturbed environment, often hardy plants like lichens or grasses that help create soil and modify conditions for other species.
Climax Community	A stable, mature ecological community that represents the final stage of succession for a particular environment, though this concept is now viewed as dynamic.