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Ecological succession is the process of change in the species that make up an ecological community over time. The process of succession occurs either after the initial colonization of a newly created habitat, or after a disturbance substantially alters a pre-existing habitat. [ 1 ]
The sequences of succession are thus entirely dependent on life-history characteristics such as the specific amount of energy a species allocates to growth. [ 3 ] The climax community is composed of the most "tolerant" species that can co-exist with other species in a more densely populated area.
Eugenius Warming's work with ecological plant geography led to the founding of ecology as a discipline. [6] Charles Darwin's work also contributed to the science of ecology, and Darwin is often attributed with progressing the discipline more than anyone else in its young history. Ecological thought expanded even more in the early 20th century. [7]
Ecological succession – Process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time Primary succession – Gradual growth and change of an ecosystem on new substrate Pioneer species – First species to colonize or inhabit damaged ecosystems; Ruderal species – Plant species that is first to colonize disturbed lands
One example of primary succession takes place after a volcano has erupted. The lava flows into the ocean and hardens into new land. The resulting barren land is first colonized by pioneer organisms, like algae, which pave the way for later, less hardy plants, such as hardwood trees, by facilitating pedogenesis, especially through the biotic acceleration of weathering and the addition of ...
Ecological succession, a fundamental concept in ecology, refers to more-or-less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ecological succession .
Historical ecologists recognize that landscapes undergo continuous alteration over time and these modifications are part of that landscape's history. Historical ecology recognizes that there is a primary and a secondary succession that occurs in the landscape. These successions should be understood without a preconceived bias against humanity.
Population ecology is a sub-field of ecology that deals with the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the environment. [15] It is the study of how the population sizes of species living together in groups change over time and space, and was one of the first aspects of ecology to be studied and modelled mathematically.