Ecosystem Succesion Paper

Ecosystem Succession Paper

There are many things going around in the world around everyone, and many people do not realize the infinite amount of processes and changes that are surrounding them. People may wonder about why there are plants growing out of concrete medians or if the land that the California wildfires burnt down will ever grow green again. They may not understand how everything (whether it seem alive or not) needs to stay in almost perfect harmony in order not disrupt our ecosystem or how our actions can hinder the recovery of these ecosystems after a disastrous disturbance. This paper will discuss primary and secondary succession, how biotic and abiotic components change the equilibrium of ecosystems, and mechanisms that can either help or hinder an ecosystem’s recovery from a disturbance.

In the text, a diagram shows the progression of a landscape and ecosystem. The first picture shows barren rock after a glacier has receded, following that is a picture of limited growth plants on different land but in the same environment, and the last picture shows how it developed into a much more populated area of small trees and shrubs. This diagram reflects primary succession which is the “ecological succession that begins in an environment that has not been inhabited before (Raven, 0000).” After the glacier in this ecosystem retreated, lichens break up the barren rock and begin the process of turning into soil by secreting acids. After time, lichens are replaced by moss and ferns that can sustain the lack of liquids in the ground. These then lead the way for the growth of more complex plants such as shrubs and small trees which eventually can turn into forest trees. After time, this ecosystem can turn into being the homes to many different species of insects and animals. Primary succession can also be seen occurring in areas with volcanic activity or sand dunes. This kind of development can also occur after destruction of landscapes.

Another diagram in the text shows pictures of secondary succession. The picture shows the progression of succession on abandoned farmland for a span of 150 years. At first, only small weeds grow but eventually other bushes override it. These bushes and shrub grow on and off for the next few years and in time the most dominant plants are pines. As the pines develop and fill the land, it makes the pine litter causes “soil change, such as an increase in water-holding capacity” (Raven, 0000) which allows for stronger and bigger trees to grow. Secondary succession can occur like this after abandonment, but it is most common after forest fires that devastate the land. Either of the types of successions would be possible without a delicate balance that is present in the world.

The Earth is composed entirely by two different types of components, biotic and abiotic, that keep the equilibrium of the ecosystems in balance. Abiotic components are anything that is not living, such as water, the atmosphere, and temperature while biotic components are any living organisms. For example, if there were no light source, the biotic organisms would not be able to survive. This is because light is the main source of energy for almost all living organisms in one way or another; it also regulates the biological rhythm of a large