Natural disasters, like wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, can really change the environment and help start something called secondary succession. Let’s break down how these events work:
Disturbance: When a disaster happens, it can wipe out many plants and animals. This changes the environment a lot.
Soil and Seeds: Unlike primary succession, which starts on bare rock, secondary succession usually begins with soil and some seeds already in place. This helps things grow back faster.
Species Replacement: Fast-growing plants, like weeds, often come in first. They create a base for more complicated plants to grow later.
Biodiversity: As things settle down over time, the variety of life forms can actually increase. This makes the ecosystem richer and more diverse.
In many ways, these disasters reset everything. They create new chances for life to grow and thrive once again!
Natural disasters, like wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, can really change the environment and help start something called secondary succession. Let’s break down how these events work:
Disturbance: When a disaster happens, it can wipe out many plants and animals. This changes the environment a lot.
Soil and Seeds: Unlike primary succession, which starts on bare rock, secondary succession usually begins with soil and some seeds already in place. This helps things grow back faster.
Species Replacement: Fast-growing plants, like weeds, often come in first. They create a base for more complicated plants to grow later.
Biodiversity: As things settle down over time, the variety of life forms can actually increase. This makes the ecosystem richer and more diverse.
In many ways, these disasters reset everything. They create new chances for life to grow and thrive once again!