| There are always disturbances in the forest landscape, whether or not they are directly caused by humans. Forests might be cleared, burned or flooded, but eventually if conditions become suitable once again, the bare land will begin to change back into a forest. |
Grasses are the first plants that grow on bare ground, beginning the process of succession that eventually leads to the growth of trees. Photo by Maya Walters.
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| This happens very slowly and gradually however. Before trees can move in, the area must first be colonized by grasses and shrubs. These first plants to move in are called pioneer plants, and they need to be tough and grow quickly in order to survive in the often harsh conditions of recently disturbed areas. |
ecological succession -- page 1 of 4
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related topics
[plants] [threats to forests]
view the condensed version of the ecological succession article for faster printing/reading
return to the forests through time article