May 11, 2021 01:52 AM EDT
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)
The word "succession" refers to how an ecosystem returns after a disruption or natural disaster: does the environment return to its original species composition, or does it change?
Ecosystem Recovery
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)
"A forest that sees a wildfire is the classic case of succession," says Kayla Christianson, a former NC State graduate student and first author of a paper detailing the study. "As the city recovers from the burn, it follows a consistent growth pattern, beginning with grasses and progressing to trees and a mature forest. The seed bank under the surface, which helps the population regenerate regardless of when the disturbance occurs, is largely responsible for this stable order of succession."