Chapter 5.3, Problem 7MI

Summary Introduction

To organize:

The factors that impact the duration of recovery of an ecosystem after a disaster.

Introduction:

The adjustment in structure of a community of various animal categories, or biological system is essentially known as succession.

Explanation of Solution

It is the intensity and the magnitude of the disaster which define the recovery process or rate on an ecosystem.Secondary succession is the major method of recovery after disaster.The disaster can be floods, hurricanes, fire, earthquake or explosions.Humans can also impact ecosystems by reducing habitat, over-hunting, spreading pesticides or fertilizers which affect the fertility of soil, and other influences.

In case there is a lot of damage to the ecosystem, where the nutrients availability is decreased or other abiotic factors becomes unsuitable for life, then the rate of succession will be increased and the appearance of pioneer species would be delayed. In case, intensity of damage is comparatively less and vegetative components such as spores and seeds are preserved during disaster, the succession will be faster.

For example, the effect of flood on soil can have a huge impact on the fertility of the soil as it will take away all the nutrients present in the top soil with it. Due to this, the soil quality and agriculture in that particular region will have to suffer major loss.