Successful Succession (14)
Succession is a process of community development that involves changes in community structure and the population of species.
Primary SuccessionPrimary succession is a type of ecological succession that occurs when characteristics of the ecosystem are completely barren. It is likely for the ground to consist of very nutrient-low soil with no organic matter present, but there is usually no soil present at all (13). The habitat is also devoid of vegetation. The Arenal Volcano in Manuel Antonio could be the cause of the barren ecosystem if it were to erupt. Because this ecosystem within Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the tropical rainforest biome, a retreating glacier could not possibly be the cause of the destruction in this ecological community. Succession could start with erosion. Lichens and algae would be the first living organisms to inhabit the bare rocks during primary succession. Over time, small herbs will become present and the forest will eventually develop trees. The forest would be a tropical rainforest because it would be located in a moist, tropical area.
This is an example of primary succesion in Xerarch. The information from the paragraph above came directly from this picture (16).
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Secondary SuccessionSecondary succession is a type of ecological succession that is initiated on pre-existing soil and is the development of new inhabitants to replace the community that has been removed (14). Secondary succession does not take as much time to restore the ecosystem when compared to primary succession. This is primarily because the soil still remains even after the disturbance. Examples of secondary succession could include floods or forest fires. Since Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the tropical rainforest biome, the most likely example of secondary succession would occur from deforestation of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. Cutting down large areas of trees that are to be replaced with buildings would cause the soil to become infertile and many animals (including the endangered squirrel monkey) would lose their daily source of food and water. This would lead to a large decrease in the population of the squirrel monkeys or other animals that are dependent on those trees. After several years, secondary succession would begin, the soil would become fertile again, and small herbs and trees would eventually appear until that part of the ecosystem is restored.
An example of secondary succession in an oak and hickory forest after a forest fire. Secondary succession occurs instead of primary succession because the soil remains intact (17).
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Not-So-Successful Human Impact
This is a simplified diagram of one of the biogeochemical cycles: the carbon cycle (28).
The major type of human impact that occurs in Manuel Antonio National Park would be deforestation. Cutting down the trees within this tropical rainforest ecosystem of this national park would cause erosion, changes in weather patterns, and flooding. Slash and burn agriculture is a type of deforestation that usually occurs in the tropical rainforest biome. In Manuel Antonio National Park and other national parks in Costa Rica, this method of clearing out an area of the tropical rainforest increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and effects a biogeochemical cycle (15). Biogeochemical cycles describe the flow of essential elements from the environment to living things and back to the environment (16a). The carbon cycle would be effected by this agricultural method, since carbon dioxide is released when organic material is burned. This increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and trapped heat in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect. In addition to the disruption of the carbon cycle, the deforestation of the Manuel Antonio tropical rainforest has caused a reduction in species diversity. As previously mentioned in the Endangered Species page, the presence of squirrel monkeys and other species are decreasing at a faster rate than expected. However, positive human activity has been implemented in the past 10 years, as monkey bridges have been rebuilt in order to allow for the squirrel monkeys to travel across the bridges to find food and water.
Predictions
Steps have already been taken in order to preserve the tropical rainforest ecosystem that exists within Manuel Antonio National Park. Even though deforestation has negatively impacted the wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole, there are multiple organizations that are heavily contributing to the safety and preservation of this beautiful ecosystem. For instance, Kids Saving the Rainforest is an organization that is currently accepting donations which contribute to the building of monkey bridges throughout the canopy of the tropical rainforest. The future that lies ahead of this ecosystem is bright, as the lives of more and more endangered squirrel monkeys will continue to be saved, as well as the lives of the other species living in Manuel Antonio National Park.