Climate+&+Seasonal+Changes

__Temperature__: The temperature of the Blackland prarie varies all around the year. During the winter it varies from mid 40’s to 50’s Fahrenheit. And in the summer it varies from low to upper 90’s Fahrenheit.

__Succession__

 * Succession** is Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area which involves the gradual replacement of one plant by another through natural processes over time.

There are two types of Succession: -Primary -Secondary


 * **Primary Succession**: is succession that occurs in a place without soil and no living organisms. (ie- Landslides, Flooding, Volcano explosion aftermath) Primary Succession often begins with the arrival of pioneer species, (Pioneer species- are species that do not need soil to surive; ex: lichen)
 * Primary Succession Process:
 * -Event (explosion, landslides, or flooding)
 * -Pioneer Species arrive
 * -Pioneer species break down rock causing soil to form
 * -Pioneer species die and decompose which returns organic matter to the soil allowing the soil to develop.
 * -Simple plants grow (such as ferns, moss)
 * -Simple plants die which add more organic to the land allowing grass, wildflowers, to develop
 * -Grass & wildflowers die adding more organic matter to the land and allow shrubs and trees to develop
 * -Bugs, birds, and animals move into the land.
 * **Secondary Succession:** is succession that occurs in a place with soil and living organisms. (ex- after a fire, logging, tornado) Occurs faster than pioneer succession because there is no need for pioneer species.[[image:secondary_succession.jpg align="right" link="http://www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Ecological%20Succession.pp"]]

Precipitation - about 30-45 in. or 750 to 1,150 mm mainly from April to May __Seasonal Changes__: Summer droughts are increasingly apparent, due to the extreme weather conditions induced by global warming trends. This is detrimental to the overall health of the ecosystem, due to the cracking of surface soil and consequent inability for plants to develop adequate root systems. -However, given time, the expansive soils that compose the Blackland Prarie habitat allow for high water retention. IN a

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