EXAMPLE OF SECONDARY SUCCESSION: OLD-FIELD SUCCESSION
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FIGURE 4.15 During old-field succession in eastern North America, the succession of communities will generally pass through several predictable stages. The initial stage consists of bare soil immediately following abandonment of the field. Second, an early successional community consists mainly of annual plants capable of colonizing bare soil. Third, a later stage of mixed perennial and annual herbaceous develops. Fourth, an early forest stage consists mainly of young, fast-growing, sun-tolerant trees and shrubs. Finally (not shown here), there is an ultimate successional stage of trees that can germinate and grow in the shade of mature, sun-tolerant trees.
(Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, US) (Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, US) (Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, US) (Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, US)