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Wildfire & Ecological Succession, Cross-Links - Coggle Diagram
Wildfire & Ecological Succession
"Wildfire plays a critical role in resetting and shaping ecosystem development. It influences both primary and secondary succession, alters soil and climate conditions, and determines species survival and dominance."
Primary vs. Secondary Succession
Primary Succession
"Occurs in areas with no pre-existing soil, such as lava flows or glacial retreats. Wildfire in these regions creates an extreme environment where pioneer species initiate succession."
Example: Krakatoa Island Wildfire Succession
"After the 1883 eruption, wildfire further cleared surfaces, allowing lichens and ferns to colonize the barren land. (Whittaker et al., 1989)"
Example: Hawaiian Lava Flow Fires
"Wildfires on young volcanic rock help establish nutrient-rich soil for plant succession."
Secondary Succession
"Occurs where ecosystems previously existed but were disturbed by fire. Soil remains, allowing for faster recovery."
Example: Yellowstone Wildfire Succession (1988)
"Fire activated lodgepole pine regeneration due to serotinous cones, allowing rapid post-fire succession. (Turner et al., 1999)"
Example: Australian Eucalyptus Forests
"Eucalyptus trees depend on periodic fires for seed release, ensuring continued dominance."
Autogenic vs. Allogenic Succession
Autogenic Succession
"Changes in the ecosystem are driven by organisms, such as fire-adapted species improving soil conditions after a wildfire."
Example: Post-Fire Soil Enrichment
"Decomposing burned vegetation releases nutrients, promoting new plant colonization. (Vitousek & Walker, 1987)"
Allogenic Succession
"Driven by external forces like climate or disturbance regimes, including increased wildfire frequency due to climate change."
Example: Boreal Forest Fires & Climate Change
"Warming temperatures increase fire frequency, altering dominant tree species. (Shorohova et al., 2009)"
Progressive vs. Retrogressive Succession
Progressive Succession
"Leads to increasing biodiversity and biomass over time. Fire-adapted ecosystems like savannas rely on periodic fires to maintain diversity."
Example: African Savanna Fire Cycles
"Regular fires prevent tree encroachment, maintaining grassland biodiversity. (Scholes & Archer, 1997)"
Retrogressive Succession
"Leads to decreasing biodiversity and biomass due to frequent or intense wildfires, which prevent full ecosystem recovery."
Example: Amazon Wildfire Degradation
"Repeated wildfires prevent rainforest regrowth, shifting ecosystems toward grasslands. (Foster et al., 1998)"
Subcategories of Succession
Hydrosere Succession
"Occurs in aquatic environments where wildfire can alter wetland succession."
Example: Wetland Fire Recovery
"Fire disturbance in wetland margins clears emergent vegetation, allowing marsh plants to establish. (Chapin et al., 1994)"
Xerosere Succession
"Occurs in arid environments where fire-resistant species dominate."
Example: Desertification & Fire
"Frequent wildfires in dry regions prevent vegetation recovery, leading to desertification. (Tilman, 1988)"
Lithosere Succession
"Occurs on bare rock surfaces, where fire-exposed rock undergoes pioneer colonization."
Example: Hawaiian Volcanic Rock Colonization
"Lichens and mosses initiate succession after fire clears volcanic surfaces. (Whittaker et al., 1989)"
Psammosere Succession
"Occurs in sandy environments where fire-adapted grasses stabilize dunes."
Example: Coastal Dune Recovery
"Wildfire removes invasive species, enabling fire-adapted grasses to stabilize dunes. (Lugo, 2000)"
Special Types of Succession
Ecesis Succession
"The successful establishment of plant species after wildfire."
Example: Boreal Forest Seedling Establishment
"Fire-stimulated germination ensures new tree growth. (Turner et al., 1999)"
Cyclic Succession
"Ecosystems where wildfire regularly resets succession."
Example: California Chaparral Fires
"Periodic wildfires maintain dominance of fire-adapted shrubs. (Keeley & Fotheringham, 2000)"
Climatic Climax Succession
"Determined by climate, where fire prevents succession beyond certain stages."
Example: Longleaf Pine Fire Climax
"Frequent low-intensity fires maintain dominance of Pinus palustris. (Mitchell et al., 2009)"
Edaphic Climax Succession
"Determined by soil factors, where fire-induced soil changes alter succession."
Example: Australian Fire-Altered Soils
"Intense fires create hydrophobic soils, delaying plant regrowth. (DeBano, 2000)"
Cross-Links
Primary Succession ↔ Secondary Succession
"Contrasts with" (Primary starts from bare rock, while Secondary retains soil and seed banks.)
Autogenic Succession ↔ Allogenic Succession
"Interacts with" (As fire-adapted species influence succession while climate affects fire regimes.)
Progressive Succession ↔ Retrogressive Succession
"Contrasts with" (Progressive succession enhances biodiversity, while retrogressive reduces it.)
Xerosere Succession ↔ Lithosere Succession
"Shares Traits with" (Both involve pioneer species on extreme surfaces.)
Hydrosere Succession ↔ Psammosere Succession
"Contrasts with" (Hydrosere is water-dependent, while Psammosere occurs in sand dunes.)
Cyclic Succession ↔ Climatic Climax Succession
"Maintains Stability in Fire-Dependent Ecosystems" (Frequent fires prevent ecosystem change.)
Edaphic Climax Succession ↔ Retrogressive Succession
"Fire-Altered Soil Contributes to Ecosystem Decline" (Fire-modified soil leads to long-term shifts.)
Cross links between wildlife and ecological sucession