Types of Ecological Succession

TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

by Antonio C. Antonio

March 22, 2015

“What is ecological succession?  Ecological succession is a natural process of change in the species (fauna and flora) structure of an ecological community over a period of time.  The process begins with a few pioneering animals and plants and a long-drawn sequence of morphology which ultimately results to a climax community of living elements in an ecosystem.  I remember having written an article entitled “Ecological Succession” published on http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ before.  In this article, I mentioned:  “There have been a few disturbances in the Philippine landscape in the last 25 years that could be considered as primary succession.  Notable among which is the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 that covered most of Central Luzon with ash.  The subsequent lahar that changed the flow/stream of the river systems in Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales can also be included in this disturbance regime.  But if we visit these places now, there is hardly a trace of Mt. Pinatubo’s devastating eruption.  Other forms of disturbance --- floods, landslides and storm surge --- can be considered secondary succession since the presence of soil, which is the primary catalyst for ecological succession, still exists.” (Antonio, 2014)

“There have been a few disturbances in the Philippine landscape in the last 25 years that could be considered as primary succession.  Notable among which is the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 that covered most of Central Luzon with ash.  The subsequent lahar that changed the flow/stream of the river systems in Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales can also be included in this disturbance regime.  But if we visit these places now, there is hardly a trace of Mt. Pinatubo’s devastating eruption.  Other forms of disturbance --- floods, landslides and storm surge --- can be considered secondary succession since the presence of soil, which is the primary catalyst for ecological succession, is still present.”  (Antonio, 2014)

What are the types of ecological succession?  They are primary and secondary successions.  Primary succession is of biological and ecological succession of plant life, occurring in an environment in which new substrate devoid of vegetation and usually lacking soil, such as a lava flow or areas left from retreated glacier, is deposited.  Primary succession develops on an area where plant life never before existed such as areas covered by lava flow or newly formed islands resulting from geological upliftment.  After these new areas are colonized by plant life, but disturbed, succession will now be secondary… therefore, secondary succession.  Secondary succession, therefore, is a series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat.  Disturbances after the primary succession mostly come from or are the results of anthropogenic (meaning: man-made) factors.  Primary and secondary successions are the two types of ecological succession.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)

REFERENCES:

Antonio, A. C., (2014). Ecological Succession (Part 2). Retrieved on the 22^nd day of March 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/07/ecological-succession-part-2.html

Antonio, A. C,. (2014) Ecological Siccession. Retrieved on the 22^nd day of March 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/search?q=ecological+succession