Succession

Primary Succession

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

Lichensand

mosses

GrassesAnd

small shrubs

Large shrubs and small trees

Large trees

Surtsey: A Case Study• The island of Surtsey formed by volcanic

eruption off of the coast of Iceland during the period from 1963 - 1967

Surtsey – Post Eruption

Surtsey Today

Secondary Succession

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

Fireweed Sequoia seedling

Case Study: Yellowstone National Park

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

Photo: National Parks Service

Yellowstone National

Park

1988 – Park mapshowing areas

(1.6 million acres)burned by theseries of fires.

Yellowstone National Park

1988 fires – The immediate aftermath.

Photo: National Parks Service

Yellowstone National

Park• One year after the

fires• Note the

appearance of fireweed

Photo: National Parks Service

Yellowstone National Park

• Ten years after the fires (1998)

Photo: National Parks Service

Yellowstone National Park

• Twenty years after the fires (2008)

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.

Chernobyl

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

Chernobyl – Twenty Years Later

Chernobyl – Twenty Years Later

Pripyat town square.

Chernobyl – Twenty Years Later

Pripyat Soccer Stadium opened in 1986.

Chernobyl – Twenty Years Later

A local highway.