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SUCCESSION NOTES
___Succession_____: gradual change in species composition of a given area.

_Primary Succession___: gradual establishment of a species in a
lifeless area.
Examples of colonization areas:
Bare Rock (exposed by a retreating glacier for example)
Crystallized lava (new rock)
Abandoned Highway or Parking Lot
** SLOW because need the development of soil
** __Pioneer Species____: first species to colonize
(usually _lichens which help to facilitate soil formation___).

__Secondary Succession_: an established community is disturbed,
removed, or destroyed but some soil/sediment remains and there is a
gradual development of species in that area again.
__Disturbance___: (can cause succession); change in conditions that
disrupts a community
Examples of disturbances:
Forest clearing
Crop harvesting
Fires
Drought
Floods

Eventually reach _Climax Community___: old, mature, stable
community.
Going from early to mid to late successional species:
Early successional plant species:
Characteristics/Examples:
RESEARCH!
Mid successional plant species:
Characteristics/Examples:
RESEARCH!
Late successional plant species:
Characteristics/Examples:
RESEARCH!
Rate of transition (replacement) depends on:

_facilitation_: one species makes the area suitable for others.
Example:

__inhibition__: early species hinder the establishment of others.
Example:

_tolerance____: late successional plants are largely unaffected by
plants in the earlier stages.
The ___Stability___ of an ecosystem (such as a climax community) depends
on:

_inertia__ or _persistence__: ability to resist being disturbed

__constancy_: ability to keep within limits due to available resources.

__resilience__: ability to bounce back.