Stage 4
- 1995-Present Day
- Intermediate Stage, Close to becoming a climax community today
- Softwood trees are beginning to appear across the region
- Many new species of animals have arrived in the area and set up predation-prey relationships with each other as well as symbiotic relationships
- http://www.surtsey.is/pp_ens/biola_2.htm
- http://www.surtsey.is/pp_ens/gen_3.htm
Stage 3
Stage 2
- 1995
- Many species of plants begin to grow across the landscape
- Shrubs have taken form
- The first animal species arrives on the island, a large colony of gulls
- Significant increase in vegetation and stability
- 1970
- Weeds and small patches of grass are replaced by larger grasses. 5 new plant species arrive in the area.
- Soil has now become much more fertile due to decayed organic matter engraving itself into the soil
- No signs of animal life
Stage 1
- First signs of life begin to grow on the island of Surtsey in 1965 post-eruption.
- Small patches of weeds and small amounts of grass grow across the region, especially near the coast.
- The soil is non-fertile and no animals reside in the region
Island of Surtsey
- The island of Surtsey is an island that was formed primarily from the eruption of a volcano
- The island first formed in 1963 from a volcanic eruption over 18 miles away near Iceland.
- The island serves as a great example of primary succession as the volcanic eruption shows how the has formed life over the years
Island of Surtsey - Primary Succession