Plant Succession & CompetitionAnand Charvin.G

What is Succession and it types.

• The natural process by which different group or community colonize the same area over a period of time in a definite sequence.

• Primary Succession : A primitive substratum without any previous living matter, is know as the primary succession.

• Secondary Succession : Starts from previously build up substratum where living matter already exists.

• Xerach Succession : Succession which happens in land

• Hydrarch Succession : succession which starts from a watery stage.

Primary succession: The gradual establishment, through stages, of a climax ecosystem, that has not been occupied before.

The stages of succession [Xerach]

Sand Dunes with Grass Herb's taking over Shrub’s on the way..

Climax Stage (Forest)Small trees

Secondary succession: The reestablishment, through stages, of a climax ecosystem, that has been cleared by natural or human means.

Stages of Hydrach Succession

PhytoplanktonSubmerged Floating Rooted submerged

Reed swampMarsh meadow

Wood land Climax forest

Common Terminologies

• Pioneer stage: First stage in a succession which is dominated by opportunist species.

• Climax stage: Final stage in a succession where all species are in balance. For example: A mature forest

• Climax community: Populations of organisms living together in the climax stage.

Xerach : The evolution of bare ground to forest.

Hydrach : Succession which involves a water body which gradually turns to forest in the climax stage.

Plant Competition• Competition between plants may be less noticeable than competition

between animals but it still takes place.

• Do you know for what plants compete for?

LIGHT WATER MINERALS SPACE

less competition

population rises

population falls

more competition

What is the importance of Competition?• To maintain the threshold, competition is required.

• The Survival of the fittest and natural selection is applied.

• Very essential for the yield of High quality and strong plants.

• Maintains the population level.

Surviving the competition

• Plants can adapt to survive in different condition.

• Plant adaptations also help in competition.

• Modifications of steam, roots, leaves etc.

• Deep roots helps in absorption and helps in stabilizing the plant.

• Strong bark will protect from animals.

• Thus Structural and Behavioral Adaptations helps in surviving the competition for food, water, minerals and space.

THANK YOU

Harike Wetland. Photo by :Gaurav Madhopuri