Primary Succession at Sideling Hill

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Primary Succession at Sideling Hill
Primary Succession at Sideling Hill


This is a picture of the Sideling Hill road cut that U.S. Interstate 68 and U.S. 40 pass through. Over 720 ft over sedimentary strata are exposed. It is a truly awe inspiring view into the history of the Appalachian mountains through geologic time. It is located roughly five miles west of Hancock, MD.
The U.N. Sustainable Development Goal connected to this photo is SDG 9: “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”. Blasting was the primary method of excavation, beginning in 1983 with the road opening in 1985. U.S. 40, is also known as the “National Freeway” or the “Cumberland Road” meanders west through Appalachia from Cumberland, MD to Vandalia, IL. The road pre-dates the founding of the United States; the first section was constructed in 1751 as a military road by the British during the French and Indian War. Since then the road has been expanded and passed from federal to state control. Currently it is a scenic road that has been largely replaced by Interstate 68, which is parallel to the original road. Previous to the completion of the Sideling Hill Road Cut in 1985, U.S. 40 climbed up the mountain and took a sharp hairpin turn before descending another steep grade. Excavation and construction took 3 years, cost 20.1 million dollars, and blasted roughly 10 million tons of stone out of the mountain. The expansion of I-68 was intended to, and has, improve the economy in Western Maryland by easing travel and opening the area to tourism.
The ecological concept that this photo exemplifies is ecological succession. Succession begins with a disturbance, in this case a section of hill has been removed by humans. The disturbance was severe and left only bare rock behind. Small grasses and bushes have begun to grow out of the rock face. These are pioneer species which are setting primary succession into motion. Over time more of these pioneer species will grow, breaking down the rock into soil particles and leaving organic matter behind as they die and decompose. Eventually, there will be enough soil that intermediate species will be capable of colonizing the area. The effects of those intermediate species on the community will enable more species to colonize, reaching a climax community.

Sources:
www.mgs.md.gov/geology/geology_tour/sideling_hill_detail....
www.mgs.md.gov/reports/FS_17.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_68#Effect_on_surrounding...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Road
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideling_Hill

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Taken on: December 2, 2024
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