It is a devastating tragedy when a part of nature is destroyed. These damages can be caused by fires, floods, or weather. Fires can be caused by humans and lightning, these are called wildfires.
Though, ecosystems are always changing, a sudden disturbance can create a huge impact on nature. Nature is always responding to other nature and human disturbances. For every cause, there is an effect. A series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called ecological succession. To explain succession, we’ll go through how Yellowstone National Forest went through secondary succession 1988.
Before 1988 Yellowstone national Forest was a beautiful boreal forest full of animals, happy as can be. But then a wildfire hits this peaceful forest. Originally, this forest contained grizzlies, elk, rodents, and bison. It also contained many Conifers and Aspen trees. These organisms lived together, some in symbiosis, in the same ecosystem. They are considered the pioneer species. Dirt and rocks were included in this ecosystem.
When secondary succession occurred, through a wildfire, a lot of life was affected. For example, a lot of Conifers decreased. However, Aspen trees thrived through this blessing in disguise, and increased, and became more common than Conifers. Fireweeds sprouted also, due to abiotic factors, like the soil. Some of these greatly affected animals and died out, unable to adapt because they relied on each other. Overtime, new species came in to the forests able to sustain life in this affected area. This end stage is referred to as the ‘climax community’ by ecologists.
Just as mentioned, for every cause, there is an effect. Though succession is a much more noticeable change in an ecosystem, it is just as important as a change not as easily seen. These changes have changed Earth over time to progress to where we are now. Succession is very important to all organisms living on Earth.