Question

the boreal forest and river valley depict in figure 4-6 were swept by fire 20 years ago. does this illustration show an earlier or later stage of succession? which kind of succession has taken place? Explain what will happen in this ecosystem if there are no more disturbances.

Answer 1

I would say this is a later part of succession since you see congiferous trees, which come much later in succession (especially after a forest fire that ravages the plain). This is secondary succession since a disturbance has wiped the land (its primary if it happened without disturbances). If there is no disturbances, I would assume the ecosystem will eventually turn into the climax community. I can't really elaborate further since I am not an ecologist, but I remember this stuff from High School and the biology GRE :)