Succession
Process in which different species make up a community over time
Autogenic succession: brought about by plants only
Allogenic succession: external factor (eg flooding) alters development of community
1° succession / succession where no living organisms have been found before
2° succession / community of living organisms have already been there / human activity damaged vegetation and stopped succession
CLIMAX COMMUNITY: final most complex stage of succession / affected by abiotic factors
o Succession can stop before a tree community
o Valley / top of a high mountain
o Climate climax: climate affects succession and complexity
o Grazing climax: grazing animals stop succession
o Grazing sheep and cattle prevent grassland to revert to woodland
SERAL STAGES change the environment to decrease abiotic factors (whole succession = sere)
o Different types of vegetation enter the area
o Increases amount and depth of soil
o Allows other plants to enter
o Will create more niches / more complex food webs / higher diversity
o More animals will enter the area
Species diversity and complexity of food webs increases until climax is reachedDynamics of an Ecosystem