University:
Michigan State University
Course:
BS 162 | Organismal and Population Biology
Academic year:

2020
Views:

381

Pages:

2
Author:

Andrioliwbf

Forest Succession Forest succession is the change over time of the plants and animals in a forest as it matures. It is a cyclic process because a disturbance, such as a forest fire, can start the forest back at the beginning. Forests are changing all the time. Plants grow and die and are broken down by decomposers, such as insects, fungi and microorganisms, returning their nutrients to the soil. Plants also feed animals that will eventually die and return their nutrients to the soil. So the process goes round and round, renewing the forest generation after generation. Below you can see the progression of a forest from grassy meadow to climax forest. Plants Stage First 5 years Shrub Stage 6-25 years Pioneer plants like grasses and wildflowers, give way to shrubs and tree seedlings. Insects, small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, songbirds and birds of prey make up a thriving food web here. Young Forest 6 - 50 years Mature Forest 51 - 150 years Tree seedlings and Deciduous trees grow Large evergreens take larger shrubs take into a shading canopy over the forest. The over from plants and dominant the forest. deciduous trees die and provide habitat They shade out most and open holes in the for rodents, small plants in the understory canopy for plants, mammals, nesting birds except evergreens and shrubs and young and deer. These attract shade tolerant wildflowers. trees to come back. hunting predators like Animals needing larger This provides habitat weasels, coyote, bobcats trees, like beaver, take for small birds and and bear. advantage of this forest stage. mammals again. Climax Forest 150 - 300 years Fewer, larger evergreens (or forests of oak or maple) dominate the forest and grow massive. Dead trees provide good and nest holes for woodpeckers and small mammals. Large fallen trees become nurse logs to seedlings and cover to animals. Forest Succession Ecological succession is the predictable, progressive change of a biological community over time to its climax state. This illustrates a grassy field evolving into a climax forest community.