Ecological succession is the way ecosystems change and grow over time. There are two main types: primary succession and secondary succession.
Primary succession happens in places that have no soil and no life yet. Here are some examples:
Volcanic Eruptions: When a volcano erupts, it can create new land like lava rocks. For example, after the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 in Washington, the land was left as bare rock. By 1992, tiny plants like lichens and mosses started to grow there. Over many years, this led to more complex ecosystems.
Glacier Retreat: When glaciers melt and pull back, they uncover bare rock. In the Arctic, for instance, as glaciers have retreated, early plants have begun to grow. A study on the Muir Glacier in Alaska showed that after 100 years, the soil depth there reached about 30 centimeters!
Secondary succession takes place in areas where something has damaged an existing community, but the soil is still there. Here are some examples:
Forest Fires: After a forest fire, like the one in Yellowstone National Park in 1988, nature can bounce back. Research shows that within just ten years, trees like lodgepole pine can grow back quickly. The number of these trees went from zero to more than 1,500 per hectare!
Abandoned Farmland: In the UK, when farmers leave their land and don’t use it anymore, big changes can happen. A study found that after just 10 years of being left alone, grasslands can change a lot, resulting in a greater variety of plants. After about 40 years, this land can turn into a woodland, showing how the types of plants can change over time.
Primary Succession:
Secondary Succession:
These examples help show how nature can recover and grow, and how ecosystems change over time.
Ecological succession is the way ecosystems change and grow over time. There are two main types: primary succession and secondary succession.
Primary succession happens in places that have no soil and no life yet. Here are some examples:
Volcanic Eruptions: When a volcano erupts, it can create new land like lava rocks. For example, after the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 in Washington, the land was left as bare rock. By 1992, tiny plants like lichens and mosses started to grow there. Over many years, this led to more complex ecosystems.
Glacier Retreat: When glaciers melt and pull back, they uncover bare rock. In the Arctic, for instance, as glaciers have retreated, early plants have begun to grow. A study on the Muir Glacier in Alaska showed that after 100 years, the soil depth there reached about 30 centimeters!
Secondary succession takes place in areas where something has damaged an existing community, but the soil is still there. Here are some examples:
Forest Fires: After a forest fire, like the one in Yellowstone National Park in 1988, nature can bounce back. Research shows that within just ten years, trees like lodgepole pine can grow back quickly. The number of these trees went from zero to more than 1,500 per hectare!
Abandoned Farmland: In the UK, when farmers leave their land and don’t use it anymore, big changes can happen. A study found that after just 10 years of being left alone, grasslands can change a lot, resulting in a greater variety of plants. After about 40 years, this land can turn into a woodland, showing how the types of plants can change over time.
Primary Succession:
Secondary Succession:
These examples help show how nature can recover and grow, and how ecosystems change over time.