In ecology, allogenic succession is succession driven by the abiotic components of an ecosystem.[1] In contrast, autogenic succession is driven by the biotic components of the ecosystem.[1] An allogenic succession can be initiated in a number of ways which can include:
- Volcanic eruptions
- Meteor or comet strike
- Flooding
- Drought
- Earthquakes
- Non-anthropogenic climate change[2]
Allogenic succession can happen on a time scale that is proportionate with the disturbance. For example, allogenic succession that is the result of non-anthropogenic climate change can happen over thousands of years.[3]
Example
editThe majority of Salt Marsh development comes from allogenic succession.[4] The constant exposure to water in the intertidal zone causes the soil of a salt marsh to change over time. This results in sedimentation and nutrient buildup that also slowly raises the level of the land. What started as a sandy soil with a slightly high pH level, eventually becomes a loamy soil with a more neutral pH level. During this period, the soil-salinity will also change by starting low and eventually rising to higher levels from continued seawater exposure.
Glacier forelands are another example of ecosystems that form from autogenic but also partly allogenic succession.[5] The importance of which is estimated to be higher in earlier successional stages, regarding rock formations, slope angles and soil composition.
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b Martin, Elizabeth; Hine, Robert (2008). "Succession". A Dictionary of Biology (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-920462-5. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ^ 9(i) Plant Succession
- ^ "Ecological Succession in Biotic Community". 30 November 2014.
- ^ Dini-Andreote, Francisco; Silva, Michele de Cássia Pereira e; Triadó-Margarit, Xavier; Casamayor, Emilio O.; Elsas, Jan Dirk van; Salles, Joana Falcão (October 2014). "Dynamics of bacterial community succession in a salt marsh chronosequence: evidences for temporal niche partitioning". The ISME Journal. 8 (10): 1989–2001. Bibcode:2014ISMEJ...8.1989D. doi:10.1038/ismej.2014.54. PMC 4184019. PMID 24739625.
- ^ Wojcik, Robin; Eichel, Jana; Bradley, James A.; Benning, Liane G. (1 July 2021). "How allogenic factors affect succession in glacier forefields". Earth-Science Reviews. 218: 103642. Bibcode:2021ESRv..21803642W. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103642. hdl:1874/412195. ISSN 0012-8252. S2CID 235543727.
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