Succession

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Slide 1

Succession

Slide 2

Primary Succession

The establishment and development of an ecosystem in an area that was previously uninhabited

Lichens

and

mosses

Grasses

And

small shrubs

Large shrubs and

small trees

Large trees

Slide 3

Surtsey: A Case Study

The island of Surtsey formed by volcanic eruption off of the coast of Iceland during the period from 1963 - 1967

Slide 4

Surtsey – Post Eruption

Slide 5

Surtsey Today

Slide 6

Secondary Succession

The recovery of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intact

Fireweed

Sequoia seedling

Slide 7

Case Study: Yellowstone National Park

1988 – Devastating forest fires burn much of Yellowstone National Park.

Photo: National Parks Service

Slide 8

Yellowstone National Park

1988 – Park map

showing areas

(1.6 million acres)

burned by the

series of fires.

Slide 9

Yellowstone National Park

1988 fires – The immediate aftermath.

Photo: National Parks Service

Slide 10

Yellowstone National Park

One year after the fires

Note the appearance of fireweed

Photo: National Parks Service

Slide 11

Yellowstone National Park

Ten years after the fires (1998)

Photo: National Parks Service

Slide 12

Yellowstone National Park

Twenty years after the fires (2008)

Slide 13

Case Study - Chernobyl

In April, 1986, a nuclear power plant in the former USSR experienced a core meltdown and a catastrophic release of radioactivity into the environment.

Slide 14

Chernobyl

Surrounding towns and villages had to be immediately, permanently abandoned.