Question

Two parking lots of similar size are abandoned at the same time. One parking lot is in a forest, the other one is surrounded by strip malls. Which parking lot do you predict will return to forest sooner? Why?

Answer 1

I predict that the parking lot surrounded by a forest will return to a forest sooner because plants around it will grow over it

Answer 2

I would predict that the parking lot surrounded by strip malls would return to forest sooner. This is because the strip mall surrounding the parking lot is likely to be developed or built on before the forest surrounding the other parking lot. As a result, the parking lot in the forest would be more likely to remain as a parking lot for a longer period of time. Additionally, the forest ecosystem may be more resilient and able to reclaim the parking lot over time, while the parking lot surrounded by strip malls may not have the same natural processes in place to facilitate its return to a natural state.