succession
what's the difference between primary & secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs on land where no previous growth has taken place, there is no substrate or soil. On the other hand, secondary succession occurs on land where previous growth , such as the soil and seed bank, makes up the substrate.
This picture is showing the stages of primary succession. First, the bare rock starts to grow lichens on them. Then, more annual plants start to grow. Perennial herbs and grasses now begin to grow. After the grasses grow, shrubs, and shade-intolerant trees start to grow. The shade-intolerant tree seeds are most likely wind dispersed. Finally the shade-tolerant trees grow, which are most likely from animal dispersed seeds. (Graded T.L.)
This fire is an example of secondary succession. Secondary succession is the growth of plants in an area where plants were destroyed, but the soil remains intact. In the taiga, the main cause of this is wildfires. In fact, some species, such as the Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) will only release seeds after a fire. (Graded T.L.)