Lecture Notes W1S7

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
Gradual changes happening in species composition and processes of communities over time is
known as ecological succession or community development. It is important to learn the process, rates,
and pattern of ecological succession for the management of ecosystems.
Ecological succession can be divided into two major categories
(i) Changes occurring over geological timescale (millions of years); also called paleo-
ecological changes and
(ii) Changes occurring over medium timescale (1 – 1000 years)
In another way, succession can also be classified into two types such as Primary and Secondary
successions. Primary successions begin at a bare land where there is no life, whereas the secondary
succession occurs at a place where the pre-existed ecosystem was either partially or fully destroyed by
natural or unnatural means.
Primary Ecological Succession:

In primary succession, the slow process of soil formation begins with pioneer or early successional
species, which arrive and attach themselves to inhospitable patches of the weathered rock. Lichens
and mosses are examples of pioneer species. These species secrete mild chemicals and acids that
penetrate the rocks and eventually make the soil fertile. Over time, the soil may be fertile and moist
enough to support other plant species. Midsuccessional species such as herbs, grasses and low shrubs
grow in the environment after lichens and mosses. Next, trees replace these shrubs over the next
hundred to thousand years.
Secondary Ecological Succession:

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In the secondary succession process, plant species grow in an area that has earlier been destroyed by
natural wildfires, floods, or human intervention. Even though the surface species are destroyed, life
remains under the soil, which eventually take foothold after the area is abandoned. We can consider
the example of mature oak and pine forests of North Carolina, USA, which were destroyed by
European settlers. They used the cleared forest for farming. As the nutrients of the land started to
dwindle, the settlers moved on. The abandoned farmland underwent secondary succession as shown in
the figure below.

Secondary succession can take place 5-10 times faster than primary successions are most of the
nutrients in the soil is still present, albeit at a much lower level than what is found at a live forest. The
species that take hold as the leader at the end of the succession is called climax species.
The process of succession takes place via two steps:
1. Nudation: In this, the bare area is formed by one of several factors: volcanic eruption,
landslide, flooding, fire, or other catastrophic event
2. Invasion: In this process, the arrival of an organism or many to the bare land takes place.
These immigrant species are called “pioneers”
3. Competition: When the number of living organisms increases, the space, nutrients, etc. in the
area are shared. The competition or struggle for existence can be intraspecific or
interspecific. Because of the competition, the environment is modified unsuitably for existing
community, which is eventually replaced by the immigrant species.
4. Climax: The end process is called “climax” or “stabilization”. When the climax community
takes hold, the environment does not undergo further change unless by natural catastrophes or
human intervention.
There are several other types of succession as well:
a. Hydrosere – succession starting in a water environment
b. Xerosere – succession starting in a dry, waterless environment
c. Lithosere – succession starting in rocks
d. Halosere – succession starting in a saline environment

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CLIMAX THEORY
1. MONOCLIMAX THEORY
 This Theory was given by F.E. Clemens.
 According to this theory, within a given region all land surface is eventually covered by a
single type of community. This type of climax is determined by climate.
2. POLYCLIMAX THEORY
 This theory was given by Tansley.
 In this type, the climax vegetation does not consist of numerous type vegetation controlled by
many factors .
FEATURES OF PIONEER SPECIES
The pioneer species should:
• have the habit of exploring new habitat.
• should be agile in nature.
• have greater ability to adapt to new environment.
• Have a wide choice of food.
• be a good breeder.
• be a tolerant species.
Differences between Primary and Secondary Successions
Properties Primary Succession Secondary Succession
Meaning It is a type of succession that It is the type of succession
starts from barren or which occurs in a habitat
uninhabited land where life existed previously
Occurs It occurs in lifeless or barren It occurs in recently denuded
areas or previously inhabited areas.
Time to compete Takes around 1000 years, It takes place in 50 to 200
which may be more. years.
Physical conditions Conditions are least suitable As life once existed. There is
for the survival of life. Soil is the presence of soil and may
devoid of nutrients or there is also even some nutrients in the
no soil at all. soil.
Humus Humus is absent Humus is present due to the
presence of previous
inhabitants
Seral community There are several intermediary Few intermediary seral
seral communities communities are present,
compared to primary
succession.
Environment It begins with an unfavourable The environment is more or
environment less favourable right from the
beginning.
Reproduction No previous community, so Reproductive structure varies
reproductive structure starts from primary succession due
from the first inhibiting to the presence of previous
species. communities in that habitat.
Examples Bare rock, ponds, desert, lava- The areas that are affected by
filled lands, etc natural calamities, covered
under deforestation

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CONCLUSION
The process of succession shows how a new community is established.
By the process of succession and by of the species of that area the factors responsible for succession
can be determined.
The process of succession helps us in the conservation of the climax community.
REFERENCES
1. Living in the environment (16th Ed.) by Tyler Miller Jr. and Scott Spoolman
2. [Link]