Ecological Succession Flipbook

Rangitoto Island – from Volcanic Rocks to Soil, From Fern to

Forest!

By Ben FullertonScience 10

January 6th 2014

Bare Volcanic rock

Stage info

-Soil: none

-Species Diversity: none

-Trophic levels: none

-Niches: none

-Nutrient Recycling: none

It begins…This is cooled lava flow from Rangitoto Island near Auckland,New Zealand.

Primary Succession - Stage 1

Pioneer Species

Stage info

-Soil: simple-Species Diversity: low-Trophic levels: decomposers-Niches: simple-Nutrient Recycling: complex

Lichen, algae and fungi slowly break down and wind-blown matter from older growth prepare the soil for the forest to come.

Primary Succession - Stage 2Early Colonizers

Stage info

-Soil: simple-Species Diversity: low-Trophic levels: primary producers-Niches: few-Nutrient Recycling: complex

Plants growing directly outOf the rocks.

Primary Succession - Stage 3

Opportunists

Stage info

-Soil: simple-Species Diversity: medium-Trophic levels: producers-Niches: many-Nutrient Recycling: complex

Rare succession from bare lava directly to forest.

Pohutakaw tree.

Primary Succession - Stage 4Climax Community

Pohutakaw Forest - small bird Population. Kaka parrot present.Goats disappeared in 1880; deer introduced in 1862 but disappeared by 1980s. Wallaby and possum introduced but eradicated.Rabbits, mice, rats, cats and hedgehogs a problem and then eradicated in 2011.Saddlebacks (birds) introduced and still active.

Stage info

-Soil: complex-Species Diversity: medium-Trophic levels: producers and consumers-Niches: few-Nutrient Recycling: complex

Disturbance

Stage info

-Soil: none-Species Diversity: none-Trophic levels: none-Niches: none-Nutrient Recycling: none

Volanic eruptions 600-700 years ago – not expected to be active again.

Secondary Succession

Stage info

-Soil: simple

-Species Diversity: low

-Trophic levels: decomposers

-Niches: simple

-Nutrient Recycling: complex

A fern called Coriaria begins the

cycle again.

Sources• http://www.ask.com/wiki/Rangitoto_Island?qsrc=3044• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rangitotopanorama.jpg• http://shoeperdiem.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/img_7343.jpg?w=490• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rangitotolavapath.jpg• http://newzealandecology.org/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol14_59.pdf• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coriaria_ruscifolia.jpg• http://

blog.tepapa.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/14_puriri-and-pohutukawa-forest-2.jpg• http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11896/regenerating-pohutukawa-forest• http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-volcanic-activity