Ecological Succession

By: Beverly Britto & Dwayne Coelho

What is Ecological Succession?

Ecological succession is the observed process of change in the

species structure of an ecological community over time. The time

scale can be decades (for example, after a wildfire), or even millions
of years after a mass extinction.
The community begins with relatively few pioneering plants and

animals and develops through increasing complexity until it

becomes stable or self-perpetuating as a climax community.
It is a phenomenon or process by which an ecological community

undergoes more or less orderly and predictable changes following a

disturbance or the initial colonization of a new habitat. Succession
may be initiated either by formation of new, unoccupied habitat,
such as from a lava flow or a severe landslide, or by some form of
disturbance, such as from a fire, severe wind throw, logging, of an
existing community. Succession that begins in new habitats,
uninfluenced by pre-existing communities is called primary
succession, whereas succession that follows disruption of a preexisting community is called secondary succession

The two types of Succession

Primary Succession
starts on an area where there

are no living organisms from

the beginning. The first
groups of organisms that
establish themselves for the
first time are called primary
community or pioneers.
occurs where the surface or

total vegetation is completely

destroyed by some
environmental disasters.
more than 1000 years are

needed to complete Primary

succession

Secondary Succession
starts on an area where there was

living organism previously, but has

disappeared due to some natural
calamity.
occurs forcefully because previous

population may be diminished due

to some natural disasters like flood,
fire, and drought. Due to these
calamities the surface lost their
organic matter & the substance has
changed completely so that the
next population develop
themselves.
less time is required around 50-200

years are needed for the completion

of secondary succession.

Primary Succession
It begins in an areas where

there are no soils & humus

is present.
Primary succession takes

Secondary Succession
The soil & humus is already

present in the particular

area from the beginning.
Typical secondary

place after a volcano has

occurred. The resulting
barren land is first colonized
by pioneer plants which
cover with durable surface
later, less hardy plants, such
as hardwood trees.

successions are: responses

to innate agitation like fire,
flood, extreme winds, and
also to the manmade
disturbances like logging
and agriculture.

It is more rarely found and

observed as it does not

take a long period of time
for its formation.

observed as it takes a longer

timeline period compared to
secondary succession.

It is more commonly

Stages of Ecological Succession

There are several stages involved which are:
1. Nudation
2. Migration
3. Ecesis
4. Aggregation
5. Competition
6. Reaction
7. Stabilization

1. Nudation: It is the development of a bare site uninhabited by any organisms.

The process is usually caused by disturbances. These factors can be either

topographic (soil erosion, wind action etc); climatic (hails, storm, glaciations, fire
etc.); or biotic (human activities). The area thus formed can sustain only
autotrophic organisms which can utilize inorganic substrates. The environmental
conditions are set up for the inhabitation of new species. For example, secretion
of acidic substances by lichen species helps in break down of rocks into soil.
2. Migration: The process of invasion or migration helps the arrival of seeds,

spores or other reproductive propagules for establishment of species. Invasive

species are non native organisms which can spread widely in a community. These
are usually threatening the normal ecosystem and causative agents for
community disturbance. However, in succession process, they help to alter the
soil texture and function. R-selected species are often the first colonizers due to
their high reproductive rates and better dispersal mechanisms.
3. Ecesis: This is the initial establishment of plant community. This is dependent on

the soil structure. The stage is also called as 'colonization'. In this stage, the
early colonizing species proliferate abundantly through germination, growth, and
reproduction..This is the stage at which the pioneer species survive the dispersal
mechanisms. The different pioneer species can have different maturation rates
which allow this process to be longer and gradually allowing replacement of
some species by others. The process also makes the soil structure suitable for
those species whose seeds were present in the existing ecosystem but were
unable to germinate for lack of suitable community support.

4. Aggregation: It is the increase in population of the species which has become

established in the area. The shrubs replace the small herbs in most
successions. This also proves as a source of food for future inhabitants.
5. Competition: Once the few initial species have become established the intra

as well as inter-specific competition among the species starts. This stage is

called competition. The competition is usually for resources such as food, water
etc. Competition is found in both plants as well as animal species. The process
leads to sharing of resources (resource partitioning) or competitive exclusion.
6. Reaction: The environmental conditions get modified by the action of species

occupying the habitat. These changes subsequently trigger the displacement

and replacement of one species by another. The existing community will be
unable to support itself due to the harsh conditions. The major underlying
mechanism is autogenic succession in which the plants themselves alter the
environmental conditions. Early colonizers usually facilitate the way for
establishment of mature species.
7. Stabilization: It is the process by which the climax community gets

established. A climax community is mature, self sustaining, stable and is the

final stage of succession. The physical and chemical conditions are altered and
stabilized to such levels that it supports the entire community. The climax
communities are best adapted to the regions of succession and the community
structure is likely to continue until another disturbance steps in. This
represents a steady state of ecological equilibrium with specific composition,
structure and energy flow.

Examples of primary and

secondary succession
Primary:

- Island of Surtsey
Secondary:
- The renewal of a forest after a fire: The fire itself destroys a
majority of different types of trees and plant life. Because
seeds and roots and other plant and tree parts remain in and
on the soil, gradually the plants and trees begin to grow again
and eventually returns to the state of the original ecosystem.
- The renewal of a crop after harvesting: A crop is completed
harvested when it becomes ripe. Without new seeds being
planted, the crop can regenerate the following year due to the
plants and seeds that remained after harvesting.