Ecological succession is a key idea in ecology that describes how ecosystems change and develop over time. It is the natural process where an ecosystem’s structure and species composition gradually shift, leading to the formation of a stable, mature community. This process involves a series of stages, each characterized by different types of species and environmental conditions.

There are two main types of ecological succession: primary and secondary. In this card sort activity, students will focus on secondary succession.

Secondary succession occurs in areas where an existing ecosystem has been disturbed or destroyed by events such as fires, floods, or human activities. In these areas, the soil remains intact, which allows for a faster recovery process. After a disturbance event clears the existing vegetation, pioneer species, often fast-growing plants like grasses and weeds, quickly colonize the area. As shrubs and small trees start to grow, they replace the pioneer species. Eventually, the ecosystem matures into a stable community similar to the climax community seen in primary succession.

I created the cards using Google slides and creative use of clipart. There are eight cards showing different scenes of a forest, a fire, and regrowth after the fire. If you open the Google slides version, and make a copy, you can edit the cards. You can also download the pdf version, which has two cards per page.