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Succession

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Defining  Succession

Succession refers to the series of ecological changes that every community undergoes over long periods of time.

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Process of Succession

Begins with relatively few  plants and the animals that are associated with these plants.

The plant life serves as food, and often shelter for the animal life that can survive in a particular environment.

The succession in the plant life is therefore matched by a succession in animal life.

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Process of Succession

Primitive community develops. The organisms gradually change the environmental conditions so each successive community paves the way for the next.

Successive community develops until it becomes a final, sustainable, stable community, of dominant organisms, known as a climax community.

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Climax Community.....final stage of succession

The climax community is the final stage of ecological succession. This stage has the greatest diversity of organisms and very complex food chains and food webs.

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Climax Community.....final stage of succession

Succession will occur whenever there are favorable circumstances. Over a long period of time(1000’s of years) an area can change from bare rock to a forest if the abiotic and biotic factors are favorable. This change would take place in a series of steps or stages.

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Stages or Steps to Succession

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Stages or Steps to Succession

Stage 1LichensStage 2More SoilStage 3Small PlantsStage 4AnimalsStage 5Larger PlantsStage 6Climax Community

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Stage #1:...here comes the lichens

Small hardy plants such as lichens  will gradually break down the surface of rock and soil will start to form

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Stage #2:....here comes more soil

As plants grow and die they add organic material to the soil. Worm and insects start to moving in.

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Stage #3:....here comes the small plants

As a thin soil forms, other small plants such as grass and small shrubs will begin to grow

This adds to the soil as they grow and die as well.

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Stage #4:....here comes the animals

Small animals such as mice and rabbits will move into area as more and more plants grow there 

providing food and shelter

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Stage #5:.....here comes the larger plants

Over time, as the soil becomes rich and deeper, more larger plants will grow such as large shrubs

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Stage #6......climax community is forming

If the abiotic conditions are favorable, trees will grow and a forest will now be growing where once there was only bare rock

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Other Forms of Succession

A forest burns down                                                                  

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Other Forms of Succession

A farm is abandoned

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Example of Succession

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Factors that contribute to succession

1. Climate

2. Soil

3. Geographical Features

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1. Climate

The most important environmental conditions that affect succession include the climate such as temperature, precipitation, and availability of sunlight.

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2. Soils

Characteristics such as salinity (amount of salt), fertility, moisture, and  texture, are also very important.

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3. Geographical Features

Latitude, altitude, and closeness to mountain ranges or large bodies of water are important. For example, in a hot ,dry desert, the climax community will certainly be quite different from the climax community that would form in a humid but cool environment such as the forests of Newfoundland and Labrador.