What is ecological succession?

Ecological succession is defined as the gradual process through which ecosystems change and develop over time. This typically involves the replacement of one community of organisms by another as conditions in the environment change. For example, after a disturbance like a forest fire or glacial retreat, pioneer species may colonize the area first, which may be later followed by more complex plant and animal communities. Succession can be categorized into primary succession, which occurs in lifeless areas, and secondary succession, which occurs in previously inhabited areas that have been disturbed. This dynamic process highlights how ecosystems are not static but rather are constantly undergoing transformation in response to both biotic and abiotic factors.

In contrast, competition among species for resources refers to interactions that can occur within an ecosystem but is not the defining characteristic of succession. Resource partitioning is a strategy that species use to reduce competition, allowing them to coexist, and does not encompass the broader concept of community changes over time. The establishment of new species in an ecosystem is a potential outcome of succession but does not capture the overall process of how communities evolve and replace one another through sequential stages.