Secondary Succession & Red Cedar Trees

Red cedar trees are known for their reddish-brown bark and fragrant wood, according to Yale University. They are coniferous trees that can grow up to 60 feet tall and thrive under a condition known as secondary succession, which is also known as old-field succession.

Succession

Succession is the process by which one natural community replaces another, according to the U.S. Forestry Service. In nature, it is when continually larger plants replace smaller weeds and flowers until a forest with giant trees is in place. This also is known as primary succession.

Secondary Succession

Secondary succession is what happens when the plant life in an area is wiped out but the soil is left undisturbed, providing a more fertile base for plants to grow.

Causes

Common causes of secondary succession include floods, windstorms, avalanches, insect infestations, tree diseases and activities by humans, such as logging.

Red Cedar

According to the Western Kentucky website, red cedar do not compete well with other large trees for water and sunlight. They thrive by spreading their seeds to areas of secondary succession.

Process

After 15 to 20 years in an area of secondary succession, cedars will begin to compete with grass and weeds that dominated the area. After more than 35 years, other trees such as oak will then compete with the cedar for light, water and nutrients.

References

• U.S. Forestry Service: The Alaskan Rainforest
• Yale University: Eastern Red Cedar
• Western Kentucky: Old Field Succession