Primary and Secondary Succession free essay sample

In the case of figure 4-4 on page 68, the text is and visual example in question is of a glacial moraine. Primary successions can also be caused by other geological changes, like lava flows. The common element being that the newly exposed environment is often lacking soil or vegetation. This new environment requires plants similar t lichen or mosses to act as a form of pioneer plats in the new environment. These plants set the stage for future plant growth by creating new optimal conditions for plant growth. As the environment changes over time, hardier plats begin to grow in the environment. The onetime barren landscape slowly gives way to grasses and eventually shrubs and trees begin to take root and thrive in the new, yet very old environment. The whole process would not take place with out pedogenesis. Pedogenesis is a fascinating subject on its own. One can describe it as the process of creating soil. We will write a custom essay sample on Primary and Secondary Succession or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Through weathering of rack mass, and the addition of decaying plant material over time, new soil is created. This is real Genesis. The definition of Secondary succession would be responses to a disturbance, for example, forest fire, tsunami, flood, or an abandoned field. Our example given on page 69 is that of an abandoned field in North Carolina. The example may be specific in the textbook; however, the results would be similar no matter where the event took place. The environment of the area plays the most important part of restoration or rather succession. Secondary succession takes place when an environment is disturbed like a fire or an abandoned farm. The soil is already present, therefore, little pedogenesis needs to occur before regeneration of the ecosystem begins to take place. First annual weeds and grasses move in followed by hardier weeds and grasses. After five to fifteen years pine trees and other fast growing trees and shrubs begin to take root. These plants giveaway over time to hardwood trees which develop around 20 to 25 years growing to maturity after a hundred years. The final growth is also known as the climax community. One must understand the growth cycle of such ecosystems and the time periods in which these ecosystems are at within the various developmental stages. Scientist use records of previous generations to date areas and can thereby determine the length of time different environments have taken to develop to their present stages. It is important to environmental management scientist to track growth of various areas under regeneration in helping to maintain wildlife habitat in these areas. As the area’s plant life changes, so does the wildlife. Those areas that were affected by a catastrophic event similar to a wildfire, the wildlife may not have been killed off by the event. The wildlife may have been simply displaced. When this occurs, the ecosystem of the surrounding area is impacted by the catastrophic event as well. The influx of primary and secondary consumers to the surrounding environment can negatively impacts those communities, if not managed properly. Scientist and wildlife management officials must work together to maintain healthy environment during an areas re-growth. Those area that are undergoing secondary succession are under a greater threat of outside interference during regeneration, Whether it is from salvage logging after a forest fire or due to an insect infestation during the pine growth stage of a forests regeneration. Each has long term consequences to the overall ecosystem of the surrounding area. One can see that what happens in one part of the ecosystem is not a lone event. This event will have a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem and community. References: Ed. Walker, L (1999). Ecosystems of disturbed ground. Department of biological sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Retrieved: March 4, 2007: http://www. canopymeg. com/PDFs/papers/0073. pdf. PBS (2001). Primary and secondary succession in america’s forests. American Field Guide. Oregon Public Television. Retrieved: March 4, 2007: http://www. pbs. org/americanfieldguide/teachers/forests/forests_unit. html