What are the rules governing primary succession in areas either created or decimated by volcanoes - what are the characteristics of the plants and animals involved?

rocky Tracy Schwab

Hi Tracy,

What comes along to first repopulate an area that has been devastated by a volcano is very variable. It depends on the climate mainly, and on what is around that hasn't been destroyed. For example, on Hawai'i you can find lava flows that are only 2-3 years old that have ferns all over the place and even a few small trees as well. You can notice that the edges of the new lava flow that are closest to the forest that wasn't covered are the places where the plants are the most plentiful, and that makes sense; these areas are closest to a source of spores and seeds. This is the case on the windward side of the island where rainfall is 100-200 inches a year. Meanwhile, on the dry side of the island where rainfall is <30 inches a year, you can find lava flows 100-200 years old that look like they were erupted yesterday, and have almost no plant cover.

In other regions of the world it is going to be the plants that were not destroyed that will provide the seeds for new growth. If the climate is warm and wet this regrowth will be rapid, if not, it won't.

I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

Scott Rowland 

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