Lawrence R. Walker and his Primary S uccession Studies

1. Lawrence R. Walker and his Primary Succession Studies Xuan Chen BIOL 7083 - Community Ecology Presentation http://kariecology.blogspot.com/2011/02/succession.html

2. Contents • Introduction of L. R. Walker • His primary succession studies • His other research • His influence on community ecology studies

3. Character Intro Ph.D., University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1985 Stanford University University of Hawaii University of Puerto Rico University of Nevada, professor of Department of Biological Science (1) Succession in plant communities (2) Community responses to disturbance (3) Restoration http://sols.unlv.edu/Walker/LR%20Walker.htm

4. Contents • Introduction of L. R. Walker • His primary succession studies • His other research • His influence on succession studies

5. Primary Succession Studies Succession – directionalchange in community composition at a site, initiated by natural or anthropogenic disturbance, or the creation of a new site. Copy from Dr. Kyle Harms’ slides

6. Primary Succession Studies

7. Primary Succession Studies Connell and Slatyer, 1977, The American Naturalist

8. Primary Succession Studies Disturbance (new habitat) Early succession species Facilitate Neutral Inhibit Primary succession Secondary succession Later succession species Stable ecosystem

9. Primary Succession Studies Primary succession can be defined as directional changesin plant communities after severe disturbances that leave no soil layers intact, or the creation of a new site. Methods (1) Fieldobservations and experiments (such as artificial fertilization, transplanting and sowing of seeds) (2) Growth experiments under more controlled greenhouse conditions (3) Labanalyses of plant and soil nutrients

10. Primary Succession Studies • Primary succession: nitrogen limited • Later, P (and/or other elements) but not nitrogen limited Walker & Syers, 1976, Geoderma

11. Primary Succession Studies Glacial moraines in Alaska River floodplains in Alaska Landslides in Puerto Rico Volcanic substrates in Hawaii http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.html http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430 science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photo http://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska

12. Primary Succession Studies Glacial moraines in Alaska River floodplains in Alaska Landslides in Puerto Rico Volcanic substrates in Hawaii http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983 http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430 science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photo http://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska

13. Walker et al., 1986, Ecology

14. Life history traits Stochastic events Fluvial processes, timing, intensity, and scale of riverine disturbance Seed rain

15. Low seed rain High seed rain Walker et al., 1986, Ecology

16. Life history traits Stochastic events Fluvial processes, timing, intensity, and scale of riverine disturbance Growth rate Life span Seed rain

17. Walker et al., 1986, Ecology

19. Primary succession: nitrogen limited, need nitrogen fixer Nitrogen fixer Inhibit Dense litter layer Seeding germination and establishment Snowshoe hare Seeding mortality Reduced light intensity Thick stands Root competition Seeding growth Allelopathy

20. Primary Succession Studies Inhibit Glacial moraines in Alaska River floodplains in Alaska Landslides in Puerto Rico Volcanic substrates in Hawaii http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.html http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430 science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photo http://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska

21. spruce alder Dryas

22. Seed dispersal Dryas alder spruce

23. Shade out • Herbivores and pathogens • Allelopathy spruce alder Dryas

24. Chapin et al., 1994, Ecological Monographs

25. Life history • Species interaction • Environmental factors their relative importance changes through succession

26. Primary Succession Studies Complex Inhibit Glacial moraines in Alaska River floodplains in Alaska Landslides in Puerto Rico Volcanic substrates in Hawaii http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.html http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430 science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photo http://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska

27. Upper zone: nearly complete removal of soil and vegetation Islands Lower zone: heterogeneous mixture of broken plants parts, and soil

28. Elevation • Size • Land use history • Surrounding vegetation • Soil development • Biotic interaction

29. Stochastic Locally Regionally Predictable

30. Primary Succession Studies Complex Inhibit Glacial moraines in Alaska River floodplains in Alaska Scale Landslides in Puerto Rico Volcanic substrates in Hawaii http://www.journalofecology.org/view/0/edchoice983.html http://ecolibrary.org/page/dp430 science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/swan/vs/repeat_photo http://news.lternet.edu/images/taiga-floodplain-tanana-river-alaska

31. MyricafayaMetrosiderospolymorpha Myricafaya Myricafaya nitrogen canopy seedling germination root competition Leaf litter Metrosiderospolymorpha

32. Pioneer species Later species compete severe facilitate environmental severity facilitate compete suitable

33. Pioneer species Later species facilitate inhibit environmental severity / succession stages

34. Opportunities for studies of succession http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/biodiversity.htm http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/biodiversity.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpamerica/5145807500/sizes/m/in/photostream/ We can imagine a study that investigates succession after invasionof a non-native as a result of climate changethat might be used to suggest restoration measures to protect local biodiversity

35. Contents • Introduction of L. R. Walker • His primary succession studies • His other research • His influence on succession studies

36. (1) Chronosequences study ? succession Long term without disturbance

38. succession Long term without disturbance Decline phase significant reduction in ecosystem productivity and standing plant biomass

39. Later, P (and/or other elements) but not nitrogen limited Wardle et al., 2004, Science

40. biomass herbaceous richness tree

41. (2) Restoration Site amelioration Development of community structure Nutrient dynamics Species life history traits Species interactions Modeling the transitions between successional stages and how those stages fit together into trajectories Succession Restoration

42. Clarify successional processes Improve the predictability of succession Succession Restoration

43. (3) Invasive ecology (4) Hurricane ecology ……

44. Contents • Introduction of L. R. Walker • His primary succession studies • His other research • His influence on succession studies

45. Primary succession is complex • Study methods • Restoration

46. Thank you http://mrswolfgang.wikispaces.com/Peace+Neal+-+Ecological+Succession

47. References • Bellingham, P.J., Peltzer, D.A., Lawrence R. Walker, L. R. 2005. Contrasting impacts of a native and an invasive exotic shrub on flood-plain succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 16 (1): 135-142. • Callaway, R.M. and L.R. Walker. 1997. Competition and facilitation: A synthetic approach to interactions in plant communities. Ecology 78:1958-1965. • Chapin, F.S., Walker, L.R., Fastie, C.L., Sharman, L.C. 1994. Mechanisms of Primary Succession Following Deglaciation at Glacier Bay, Alaska. Ecological Monographs 64:149–175. • Myster, R.W., Walker, L R. 1997. Plant successional pathways on Puerto Rican landslides. Journal of Tropical Ecology 13 (2): 165-173. • Prach, K., Walker, L R. 2011. Four opportunities for studies of ecological succession. Trends in Ecological and Evolution 26 (3): 119-123. • Shiels, A.B., Walker, L.R. 2003. Bird perches increase forest seeds on Puerto Rican landslides. Restoration Ecology 11: 1-9. • Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R. 1989. Biological invasion by Myricafaya in Hawaii: Plant demography, nitrogen fixation, and ecosystem effects. Ecological Monographs 59:247- 265. • Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R., Whiteaker, L.D. 1993. Nutrient Limitations to plant-growth during primary succession in Hawaii-volcanos National Park. Biogeochemistry 23 (3): 197-215. • Vitousek, P.M., Walker, L.R., Whiteaker, L.D., Muellerdombois, D., Matson P.A. 1987. Biological invasion by Myricafaya alters ecosystem development in Hawaii. Science 238 (4282):802-804. • Walker, L. R., Chapin, III. F. S. 1986. Physiological controls over seedling growth in primary succession on an Alaskan floodplain. Ecology 67: 1508 1523. • Walker, L.R., del Moral, R.2009. Lessons from primary succession for restoration of severely damaged habitats. Applied Vegetation Science 12: 55-67. • Walker, L.R., Bellingham, P.B., Peltzer, D.A. 2006. Plant characteristics are poor predictors of microsite colonization during the first two years of primary succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 17:397-406. Walker, L.R., Clarkson, B.D., Silvester, W., Clarkson, B.R. 2003. Colonization dynamics and facilitative impacts of a nitrogen-fixing shrub in post-volcanic primary succession. Journal of Vegetation Science 14: 277-290.Walker, L. R., Zasada, J. C., Chapin, III. F. S. 1986. The role of life history processes in primary succession on an Alaskan floodplain. Ecology 67: 1243 1253. • Walker, L.R., Zimmerman, J.K., Lodge, D.J., Guzmán-Grajales, S. 1996. An altitudinal comparison of growth and species composition in hurricane-damaged forests in Puerto Rico. Journal of Ecology 84: 877-889. Walker, L.R., Voltzow, J., Ackerman, J.D., Fernandez, D.S., Fetcher, N. 1992.  Immediate impact of Hurricane Hugo on a Puerto Rican rain forest. Ecology 73:691-694.Walker, L.R., Zarin, D., Fetcher, N., Myster, R., Johnson, A. 1996. Ecosystem development and plant succession on landslides in the Caribbean. Biotropica 28: 566-576. • Wardle, D., Walker, L.R., Bardgett, R.D. 2004. Ecosystem properties and forest decline in contrasting long term chronosequences. Science 305:509-513.