spm3892
Succession Gradient of A Long-leaf Pine Forest
Ecological succession is usually thought of as a large scale event. However, it is possible for the term to be applied to a smaller scale event like that shown in the image above. It may be unclear, but what's shown above is a small piece of a massive land clearing (which was difficult to capture due to its size and unusual shape). It appears that, during the construction of the river-to-sea trail, the land on either side of the trail was cleared 50 meters on either side for the entirety of the trail. It appears that there has been another clearing but only to about ten meters on either side. All this is made apparent by the transition from long leaf pine forest to dense foliage to sparse underbrush. In the distance, multiple specimens of P. palustris can be seen. The individuals stand far enough away from each other to indicate that other plants, most likely oak, wiregrass, magnolia, or (most likely) some combination of the three occupy the intervening space. There is a uniform line, beyond which the pines don't grow. This is assumedly the boundary of the original clearing. between that boundary and the trail, there is a dense foliage of magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) interspersed with individual gray oak trees (Quercus grisea). Between this area and the trail is a section composed mostly of leaf litter and pine saplings. At the sapling satge it is difficult to tell whether these are long leaf pines (Pinus palustris) or loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).
The phenomenon taking place in this photo is called secondary succession, and occurs when all life is cleared from an area but the soil is left intact.
Succession Gradient of A Long-leaf Pine Forest
Ecological succession is usually thought of as a large scale event. However, it is possible for the term to be applied to a smaller scale event like that shown in the image above. It may be unclear, but what's shown above is a small piece of a massive land clearing (which was difficult to capture due to its size and unusual shape). It appears that, during the construction of the river-to-sea trail, the land on either side of the trail was cleared 50 meters on either side for the entirety of the trail. It appears that there has been another clearing but only to about ten meters on either side. All this is made apparent by the transition from long leaf pine forest to dense foliage to sparse underbrush. In the distance, multiple specimens of P. palustris can be seen. The individuals stand far enough away from each other to indicate that other plants, most likely oak, wiregrass, magnolia, or (most likely) some combination of the three occupy the intervening space. There is a uniform line, beyond which the pines don't grow. This is assumedly the boundary of the original clearing. between that boundary and the trail, there is a dense foliage of magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) interspersed with individual gray oak trees (Quercus grisea). Between this area and the trail is a section composed mostly of leaf litter and pine saplings. At the sapling satge it is difficult to tell whether these are long leaf pines (Pinus palustris) or loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).
The phenomenon taking place in this photo is called secondary succession, and occurs when all life is cleared from an area but the soil is left intact.