Biology question on succession after a volcano eruption

Question

After a volcanic eruption, small areas of farm between the lava flows were left abandoned. Compare the successional processes expected on the lava flows and in the abandoned farmland. How would you characterise the plants growing in both sites during the first decade after the event?

Answer 1

Hi Jim B.,

An incredibly complex question, if you are intended to be comprehensive! But your teacher is probably looking for something more along these lines:

Succession on lava flows may depend somewhat on the pH of the lava, but the first colonizers (primary succession) might be small annuals relying on wind- or water- deposited soil as a substrate, via wind-borne seeds. That will be very slow! On the farm soil strips, if the lava caused destructive ground fire, wind-borne seeds will recolonize rapidly and woody species are likely to sprout from still-living roots. That will allow gradual establishment of a diverse community, since the woody specimens may attract seed-bearing birds, bats, and mammals from undisturbed distant areas.

-- Cheers, -- Mr. d.