Why does ecological succession occur?
Ecological succession, the process of change with an ecological community, occurs for two basic reasons. Either the relationships between organisms in a community change or the physical state of the community changes, as in the case of a landslide or volcano.TypesPrimary succession occurs because living organisms enter a previously barren environment, as when plants grow after glaciers recede. Secondary succession happens when an ecological community changes due to a disturbance.Time FrameEarly in succession, many new organisms arrive that consume newly available resources, so the rate of species turnover is highest during the beginning stages.HistorySuccession is a chain of cause and effect. In the early 1900s, classical ecological theorist F.E. Clement outlined a process in which a barren site is populated by migrating life forms which then compete with one another for space and nutrients, followed by successive changes in the habitat that eventually lead to stability.ControversyThe
