Ecological Succession
In ecological terms, succession is the process by which a community's composition changes over time. Succession begins in an environment where there is no life present. In such an area, a species hearty enough to survive extreme conditions must be introduced first. Once a species takes hold in this harsh environment, it becomes known as a pioneer species which launches the the area into the pioneer stage. These first species usually create changes in the area through their existence by simply carrying out their natural functions. Eventually, once pioneer species have molded the environment enough, other species begin to inhabit the area even though they may not have been able to beforehand. Overtime species will be added and removed from the community putting it in an intermediate stage. Through enough trial and error via natural selection, amongst other factors, a community may reach what is known as the climax stage. In this stage, a community is thought to be a stable endpoint where the ecosystem is harmoniously functioning. At any one of the three major stages disturbances such as fires, storms, eruptions, etc, could send the community back to any one of the earlier stages.
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