You've read how Moulton Hill is an early
successional forest. That's the first stage of regrowth. Here's a definition of the second
and third stages, Mid and Late Successional.
Sun-loving, fast-growing pioneer plants are short-lived. As they grow, they
change the forest environment, shading the forest floor. A second group of plants finds
the new environment compatible and moves in to take over, replacing pioneer species.
Secondary plants are semi-tolerant of shade, usually fast-growing and longer-lived. These
include red maple, black and yellow birch, white pine, white and red oaks, and hickories.
As the secondary plants grow, they also will change the forest environment, making it
suitable for shade-tolerant, climax plants. [ref:Yorke]
Shade-tolerant trees are fir, spruce, hemlock, beech, sugar maple and yellow
birch. Forests continually change as trees grow and die. Insects invade old, decaying
trees and create potential feeding, nesting, denning, and escape areas for more than 40
species of wildlife. Though the forest may reach a climax stage in succession, it's always
changing - opening and closing with patches created by natural and human-induced
disturbances. [ref:Yorke]
