An Observation of the Early Stage Processes of Secondary Succession in a College Field

Abstract

An area for observation was set up on a plot of land (1m × 2m) atrificially denuded in a field at the Chiba College of Health Science (Chiba City). The early stage processes of secondary succession have been observed there for nearly 11 years. It was observed that in the first three years after denuding, the plants which formed a plant community in the plot changed gradually from annual to perenninal types, and that in the tenth year a tree began to put forth its blossoms and bore fruits.

The results of the observation showed that when a plot of land in the college field was denuded, the early stage processes of secondary succession took place there more quickly than expected. also, when two plots of land are denuded at different periods, different stages of succession could be observed at the same time.

The fact that the vegetation in the plot changed from annual to perennial types in the first three years after denuding, indicates that the denuded plot is useful for ecological study in school. The results presented here and in similar studies are valuable for students to construct the concept of secondary succesion in high school biology.