Natural Calamities Effect on Ecosystem

There's a natural process in ecology called succession. Ecological succession is the progression of a natural community of organisms from what's called the pioneer stage to the climax stage. Natural calamities tend to set an ecosystem back from a climax or near-climax stage to the pioneer stage.

Fire

Some ecosystems are adapted to fire, as is the New Jersey pine barren ecosystem, where pitch pines depend upon heat from fires to open their cones and release seeds.

Wind

Wind, if severe enough, can uproot and topple trees, which allows more light in and exposes mineral soil to the seeds of so-called pioneer plants.

Flood

Heavy flooding, especially with strong currents, can uproot and wash away vegetation and soil. In the aftermath, pioneer species of plants take root and begin a succession of stages back toward the climax.

Drought

A severe, sustained drought can stress and even kill vegetation. Unlike in a fire or flood, the dead vegetation may stay in place. But the ecosystem is still set back to an earlier successional stage.

Animals

Since the food chain or food web largely dictates that animals are dependent upon plants, animal life---including small, invertebrate animals and even microbial animals---is also affected by natural calamities.

References

• Trinity Valley Community College, Ecological Succession
• University of North Texas, Ecological Succession