Primary
Primary succession is defined as an area that is devoid of life and contains no soil. This requires a pioneer species to begin to lay the ground work for other species by creating nutritious soil for future plants to grow in. If a volcanic eruption were to occur in the Mojave National Preserve, the plant that would most likely be the pioneer species would be the Creosote. This plant already experienced harsh conditions in its current environment of little water and blistering heat, consequently, this plant would be ideal to initiate primary succession.
Secondary Succesion
Secondary succession occurs in an area that once had stable life but has
since been disturbed by some major force. In the Mojave National Preserve, the
most likely cause of a disaster would be a drought or a flash flood. In either
case, soil would already be present and a whole multitude of different grasses
and wildflowers would be able to inhabit the land in addition to the hardy
Creosote. If Joshua Trees were affected, then they would slowly grow back as
well when their seeds found a suitable spot in the ravaged environment. After
the basic ground cover is established, then all animals would be able to move
back into their previous environment. This process would also require much less
time than primary succession because soil is already present in this scenario.
since been disturbed by some major force. In the Mojave National Preserve, the
most likely cause of a disaster would be a drought or a flash flood. In either
case, soil would already be present and a whole multitude of different grasses
and wildflowers would be able to inhabit the land in addition to the hardy
Creosote. If Joshua Trees were affected, then they would slowly grow back as
well when their seeds found a suitable spot in the ravaged environment. After
the basic ground cover is established, then all animals would be able to move
back into their previous environment. This process would also require much less
time than primary succession because soil is already present in this scenario.
Human Impact
Biological soil crusts are important parts of the desert ecosystem. The biological soil
crusts cover the areas not covered by green plants. Cyanobacteria and other
organisms live in these crusts and are instrumental in minimizing erosion,
increasing water retention, and improving the health of the soil. The organisms
living in the biological crust are helpful increasing water retention because
when it does rain, these organisms are able to absorb up to ten times their
volume in water. Perhaps most importantly, these organisms work to fix nitrogen
and produce organic matter.Humans affect this process in several ways. When walking through the desert, footprints compress the biological crusts, which is concentrated in the top eight of the
soil. Also, when farmers have livestock walk through the Mojave Desert, it condenses the important biological crusts which are instrumental in the overall health of the ecosystem. When the crusts are crushed, they produce significantly less nitrogen and require nearly twenty years to recover under conditions of high rainfall and up to 250 years of recovery in conditions of sparse rainfall.
crusts cover the areas not covered by green plants. Cyanobacteria and other
organisms live in these crusts and are instrumental in minimizing erosion,
increasing water retention, and improving the health of the soil. The organisms
living in the biological crust are helpful increasing water retention because
when it does rain, these organisms are able to absorb up to ten times their
volume in water. Perhaps most importantly, these organisms work to fix nitrogen
and produce organic matter.Humans affect this process in several ways. When walking through the desert, footprints compress the biological crusts, which is concentrated in the top eight of the
soil. Also, when farmers have livestock walk through the Mojave Desert, it condenses the important biological crusts which are instrumental in the overall health of the ecosystem. When the crusts are crushed, they produce significantly less nitrogen and require nearly twenty years to recover under conditions of high rainfall and up to 250 years of recovery in conditions of sparse rainfall.
Biogeochemical cycle:
- Water Cycle: Water is not abundant in deserts. The air is very dry and the little rain that falls usually gets evaporated almost right away. Rain is underground to and sometimes plants get their water from underground sources.
- Carbon Cycle: Carbon gets exchanged between the atmosphere and plants in the carbon cycle. Plants use carbon during photosynthesis, and organisms release carbon when they breath. Also when organisms die they release carbon into the air. Then plants use the carbon again.
- Nitrogen Cycle: Begins when desert plants take in nitrates from the ground. The insects and reptiles eat the plants, and they are eaten by other secondary consumers. The nitrogen compounds are returned back into the ground by their waster products and when the organisms die. The nitrogen goes back into the soil and bacteria and fungi mineralize them for plant growth.
- Phosphorus Cycle: Phosphorus comes from rocks and soil minerals. When rocks and sediments wear down the phosphate is released. It usually stays on land, especially since it can't go to the ocean from run-off water, but sometimes it is in organisms and gets carried around for a while.
Prediction.
The Mojave Desert is currently protected as a National Preserve. Our prediction is if "National Preserve" would switch to "National Park," it would prevent hunting on the land and it would help in preserving the fragile ecosystem.