Succession

• What is succession?


  The process by which plants, animals and communities colonise an area and over time are replaced by other, more varied organisms
• What is the process of primary succession?

  • Starts from bare rock or water
  • Pioneer species penetrate and break up rocks
  • Moss and ferns grow and cast shade to stop growth of lichens
  • Growth of larger plants and the presence of animals causes shade over smaller ones and kills smaller ones
  • Leads to a climax community
• What is a pioneer species?


  The first species to colonise an area. They can withstand extreme conditions
• What is a climax community?


  When an area is colonised by a dominant plant and there is no room for any more
• What is secondary succession?

  Occurs in a climax community after a current serial state is removed

  Can be due to deforestation, or fire, or natural disaster
• What is defective succession?


  When a climax community is not reached, this may be due to human activity like agriculture
• What is it called when a climax community is not reached?

  Plagioclimax