Grade 9 Climate Change & Biology | Lesson 8 - Succession

Lesson 8 of a Grade 9 curriculum focuses on the intersection of climate change biology and ecological succession. The material explains ecological succession as the observable process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. It details primary succession, which occurs in environments devoid of life or soil, such as following volcanic activity or glacial retreat, and secondary succession, which happens in areas where a previous community existed but was disturbed, like after a wildfire or deforestation.

Subtopics covered include the stages of succession, from pioneer species establishing the initial community to the eventual development of a climax community. The relationship between these long-term ecological processes and contemporary climate change is analyzed, discussing how altered environmental conditions, such as increased frequency of extreme weather events, may impact the rate and trajectory of succession in various ecosystems.