Surtsey and its Pioneer Species

The formation of Surtsey, a new island in Iceland shows how pioneer species operate

Article: http://volcanocafe.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/surtsey-the-birth-of-the-modern-world/

Date Published: Nov. 23rd, 2013

Author: Carl L'estrange

This article explains how the island on Surtsey came to be. Surtsey is an underwater volcano that surfaced in the 1960's just off the coast of Iceland. it was immediately studied as a prime example of land formation and also of pioneers species. Within a few years the first plants started to grow there, their seeds having been blown from the Icelandic mainland. Today, there are 69 different species of birds living there, and it has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

This article is relevant to the study of ecosystems because it provides a prime example of how pioneer species work, by showing how new land is quickly populate with organisms. In 50 years, Surtsey has become inhabited by plants and animals, and it a thriving ecosystem as developed, all because of the reproduction and spreading strategies of the different plants inhabiting the island.