Field Trip

Lab 5

Ecological Succession

In thinking about the greater Prescott area and ecological succession, my mind kept think about fires that have struck our area over the years.  This weekend we remember one year ago the Yarnell 19 that gave their life to protect life and property.  This fire represents ecological succession.  This fire also represents incredible valor of men laying down their life for another.  I am grateful for this lab that would lead me to visit Yarnell this weekend to take some pictures and remember life that was forever changed.

According to our textbook, Essential of Ecology describes ecological succession as the cause and effect change that takes place to a biological community and ecosystem.  In this type of succession can be an event like a fire, volcano eruption, deforestation, or a human intervention like developing roadways, parking lots, and buildings.  The effect is the biological community and ecosystem is changed or evolves. 

Ecological succession can be good and healthy for biodiversity and sustainability.  When you initially think of the destruction that can come from a natural disaster like a fire, flooding, or man made impacts like building and construction, seldom would you consider the good that can arise from such events.  Succession allows for population control and greater biodiversity. 

These pictures represent ecology succession.  Simply put, life existed in a certain way, a fire comes through, life is destroyed, and now new life comes forth out of the destruction.  The life that exists now is different then the life that existed before the fire.  As time goes on, a succession will take place where species come and go, in nature’s way of bringing a greater balance.

How would you reply to someone who argues that we should not worry about our effects on natural systems because natural succession will heal the wounds of human activities and restore the balance of nature?

I have a difficult time taken anything for granted.  I would acknowledge the wonders of the environment around us is filled with the most amazing of things that we see and do not see.  I continue to be amazed at our ecosystem and how it works together creating a balance for us to receive the abundant gifts from its diverse resources.  With all that said, I would think it would be foolish and dangerous for us not to do our part and be good stewards of our environment.  While it is amazing that there is a natural system that has an ability to heal the wounds of human activities, we should not become lazy in thinking that it has endless ability to continue doing so. 

Citation

Miller, Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Essentials of Ecology. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2012. Print.