The Indiana Dunes State Park

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The Indiana Dunes are well known by biologists around the world as the “birthplace of ecology.” This is likely due to them being a prime example of ecological succession, which can be seen occurring as one walks through the different areas of the dunes from the beach all the way through the woods. Originally, the dunes region was covered by a massive glacier in what is now the Great Lakes region, but as the Earth warmed up the glacier melted and left a heavy layer of sand. In the dunes community, sand is the base material on which ecological succession occurs. Ecological succession is the reason why the Indiana Dunes State Park is what it is today, although tolerance curves along with key plant species drive the process itself. Ecological…show more content…
This happens when new organisms colonize an area that has already hosted life as a result of primary succession. One example of secondary succession is evident in the far reaches of the foredune community with the Cottonwood tree. These trees have triangle shaped leaves and can grow up to eighty feet high. Their stems act like roots when buried under the sand, allowing them to thrive in the semi-compacted sand as they grow taller by helping to anchor the tree. In this way, the Cottonwood acts as a precursor in succession for larger trees along with Marram grass due to its role in helping to stabilize the soil. This makes sense considering the Cottonwoods are found before the larger hardwood tree species that are located in the more heavily wooded habitats of the dunes. The Cottonwood also provides a nesting habitat for the Eastern Kingbird, which perches on its limbs while searching for prey and returns instinctively to the same tree after hunting. Instances of secondary succession at the dunes are further evidenced in the wooded habitats of the…show more content…
On the shores looking inland, primary succession unfolds in an endless sea of sand as islands of thin, golden Marram grass peak over the rolling dunes. Secondary succession unravels further inland, as Cottonwoods stand defiant to the blowing sands piling endlessly over their limbs. Keep walking and the towering Jack Pines resemble a fortress of foliage, protecting the hickories and oaks behind them from the terrorizing sands. Each resulting community in this succession process depends on the previous one, and the big picture is evident from start to finish simply by moving

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