Forests are essential to all living species here on earth. They are the home of multiple species of flora and fauna. They are the provider of the oxygen we breathe, the timber for our houses, the food that we eat and other multitude of benefits.
What is fascinating about them is the way they flourish over time. This is what my article is all about: the concept of Ecological Succession. This is just but one example because there are many other ecosystems. Now, we all know succession is the passing of power, generation, inheritance, characteristics and traits from one form to another. Ecology views it quite differently.
Let me take you to a tour on one example of how ecological succession works. In reality, the timescale is in decades or even more.
In a certain area, a wildfire occurred, killing every visible living organism. The land then became barren and arid. Fire burnt life as if it never existed.
1st Phase: Lichens, mosses and grasses started to grow on those drylands when the remaining burnt leaves, branches and twigs actually provided minor nutrients that enable their growth. These selected species can exist with extreme environments and harsh conditions.
2nd phase: When those grasses and little plants start to die, they also fertilize the land. They also attract small animals to graze in them. In turn, they allow a quite larger species of bushes and trees to thrive thereby providing little shade. This shade then in turn entices other species to thrive and grow as well.
3rd Phase: Large tree species obtained then the capability to thrive competing with the inferior ones and overpowering them in the process. The larger trees provide canopies that prohibit sunshine to the smaller ones and killing them. With a much larger shade, more animals migrate and the ecosystem is now either back to its original state or a new appearance.
This may seem normal and natural but my fascination is really on how nature copes up with distress. How I view ecological phenomenon is different from others. I see typhoons and wildfires as renewals. I always have the idea of either the virus(us) kills the host(earth) or the host kills the virus. We don’t own this planet. We must coexist not destroy.
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