How does ecological succession lead to a stable environment? By Salma R.

What is ecological succession? From the Latin, succedere, to follow after Ecological succession is the changing sequence of communities that live in an ecosystem during a given time period. It is a gradual change could be primary or secondary

Primary succession Primary Succession- series of changes that occur in an area where no ecosystem previously existed. – Example: An area might be a new island formed by the eruption of an undersea volcano – Example 2: An area of rock uncovered by a melting sheet of ice. The first species to populate the area are called Pioneer Species. – Lichens and mosses – carried by the wind or water

Examples of primary succession

Secondary succession Secondary Succession- the series of changes that occur after a disturbance in an EXISTING ecosystem. – Unlike primary succession, secondary succession occurs in a place where a n ecosystem has previously existed. – Secondary succession restores the ecosystem to a state in which equilibrium can be maintained. occurs somewhat more rapidly than primary succession

Examples of secondary succession

Disturbance and Succession-Type Primary Secondary – Volcano – Landslide – Fire – Hurricane – Flooding – Dune Formation – Logging – Lake Drainage – Tsunami

How does this lead to a stable environment? It has been observed that when natural disasters occur, such as a floods or fires, the damaged ecosystem is likely to recover in a series of successional stages that eventually result in a stable system similar to the original one that occupied the area. Ecologists refer to the final, highest stage of ecological development in an area as the area's climax community. That terms refers to a relatively stable community that is environmentally balanced. Climax communities are more a theoretical than a real concept. Certainly it is possible to recognize in old-growth communities areas that change relatively slowly compared to the earlier, more dynamic stages of succession.

How does succession lead to a stable environment?