succession

• stage 1

  • pioneer species
  • 1st species to colonise an area
  • can withstand desiccation, extremes of temperature, low levels of nutrients
  • begin to penetrate and break up the rock
• stage 2

  • pioneer species die and decompose, organic matter builds up
  • simple plants such as mosses and ferns can now grow
• stage 3

  • growth of larger plants and the animals which inhabit them will cause further changes in soil and light conditions
  • shading from larger plants will kill some smaller plants
• stage 5

  • eventually, the area is colonised by a dominant plant species and a climax community is reached
  • in the uk, the climax community is oak woodland
• secondary succession

  • occurs after a disturbance has occurred and the original community has been removed
  • reaches climax community faster
• conservation of habitats:

  • personal reasons
  • ethical reasons
  • economic reasons
  • cultural and aesthetic regions
• plagioclimax- a habitat in which the influences of humans have prevented the ecosystem from developing further.