Ecological Succession
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
• Ecological succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems
change and develop over time.
• The series of changes in an ecosystem when one community is
replaced by another community as a result of changes in biotic
and abiotic factors
• Can regenerate a damaged community
• Can create a community in a previously uninhabited area
• Occurs in all types of ecosystems (forests, ponds, coral reefs,
etc).
• Progressive or directional changes.
• Developmental stages in the ecosystem thus consist of a pioneer
stage, a series of changes known as serel stages, and finally a
climax stage.
Primary succession is the series of community changes which occur on
an entirely new habitat which has never been colonized before. For
example, a newly quarried rock face, lava flows, exposed land from
melting glacier or sand dunes.
Lichens Mosses Chamberbitter
Yellow Nutsedge Dandelion Shrub
Pine Tree Maple Tree
Acadia National Park in Maine.
• First to appear on the bare rock are lichens and algae.
• Form tiny cracks which are widened by freezing and thawing.
• Supports the growth of mosses.
• Larger cracks have enough soil to support grasses and small shrubs.
• The largest cracks come together to form small basins where trees can
take root. In the background the climax coniferous forest is visible where
enough soil has accumulated to support the trees.
Primary succession will occur after a volcanic eruption
Primary succession after a glacier retreats
Factors in Succession(Succession Models)
1. Facilitation
One species makes an area suitable for another in a different niche
Eg: Legumes add nitrogen so other plants thrive
2. Inhibition
Early species hinder establishment and growth of later species and more
disturbance needed to continue
3. Tolerance
Late successors not affected by earlier ones
Explains mixture of species in Climax Communities
Climatic factors
• Precipitation
• Temperature
• Insolation (Incoming Solar Radiation)
Edaphic Factors
• Alkalinity of soil
• Extreme acidity
• Iron toxicity
• Zinc deficiency
• Low nutrients in soil
Changes during succession
Pioneer species: lichens and mosses that extract nutrients
from dust and bare rock.
Then: Bacteria, fungi, insects, small worms add organics to
the soil
Early succession plants: grasses, herbs
Midsuccessional plants: grass and low scrubs
Late successional plants: trees
Climax community: depends largely on climate and edaphic
factors
Secondary succession is the series of community changes which take
place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat. For
example, after felling trees in a woodland, land clearance or a fire, floods,
hurricanes, landslides, agriculture.
An example of Secondary Succession by stages:
• A stable deciduous forest community
• A disturbance, such as a wild fire, destroys the forest
• The fire burns the forest to the ground
• The fire leaves behind empty, but not destroyed, soil
• Grasses and other herbaceous plants grow back first
• Small bushes and trees begin to colonize the area
• Fast growing evergreen trees develop to their fullest, while shade-
tolerant trees develop in the understory
• The short-lived and shade intolerant evergreen trees die as the larger
deciduous trees overtop them. The ecosystem is now back to a similar
state to where it began.
Succession after a forest fire
• Nutrient release to soil
• Regrowth by remnant roots and
seeds
• Invasions from neighboring
ecosystems
• Rapid restoration of energy flow
and nutrient cycling
Succession after farming
Hydrosere - A Wetland Example of Succession
Open Freshwater Submerged Plants Swamp
micro-organisms
and plankton
floating in the
water.
Climax Woodland Alder/Willow Carr Marsh
After heavy rain, silt-laden, muddy flood
water pours into a pond (rear) and then exits
(front)
So much silt has been left by the flood water,
that most of the pond has been completely
filled up with sediment
Succession types based on the habitat
Lithosere – Succession in Soil
Hydrosere – Succession in Water
Halosere – Succession in Salty / Saline land
Xerosere – Succession in desert
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