ecosystems have a lifecycle that usually ends with a natural “disaster” such as a forest fire....

Ecosystems have a lifecycle that usually ends with a natural “disaster” such as a forest fire. The result is a clear fertile area for plants to colonize with different abiotic and biotic factors then the preceding forest.

Primary succession involves pioneer species developing and stabilizing the ecosystem. Slowly they change the abiotic & biotic factors of the ecosystem. Secondary succession involves a change in the dominant species of the area over time.

New volcanic island in the canary islands

During primary succession gross productivity rises as small plants are replaced by larger plants, productivity increases, biomass increases, diversity increases, soil is built, minerals accumulate, erosion is reduced

Taiga The winters in the taiga are very cold with only snowfall. The summers are warm, rainy, and humid.

Most precipitation falls as rain in the summer.

There are few plants in the taiga because of the harsh conditions. There are some lichens and mosses, but most plants are coniferous trees.

Animals tend to be predators like the lynx, wolverines, bobcat, minks and ermine. They hunt herbivores like snowshoe rabbits, red squirrels and voles.

Red deer, elk, and moose can be found in regions of the taiga where more deciduous trees grow.