Ecological Succession

Introduction 

We commonly see that land and forest areas get significantly influenced by natural calamities. And remarkable impacts due to anthropogenic activities. Because of this, usually, the area’s greenery gets negatively affected. 

However, over time such areas usually get covered by greenery and even become fertile. A new type of plant community replaces the older plants in the same area. It is the basic process called succession in plants. 

Here are the terms like pioneers and seral communities are common in use. Here the first term refers to the first plants that invade the barren area. At the same time, the latter one is known as the plant communities’ translational developments series. 

Further, the last plant community to invite the land is the climax community. You need to learn much essential information aside from the plant succession definition. Some of these are the causes of succession, its characteristics, and types. Here in this article, we will cover all these topics. 

Causes of Succession in Plants

 There has been parallelism in organic life’s ecological succession and evolution since the beginning. The process of succession in plants is quite complicated to understand. However, as per data, there are three prime reasons for any succession in plants: 

They are as follows: 

• Initiating causes 

Numerous activities of biotic and abiotic elements cause the emergence of barren lands. They also result in the demolishment of existing plant communities of any space. 

Hence they initiate primary or secondary succession in plants. 

• Continuing causes 

The activities like reaction migration competition and aggression lead to a continuation of a shift in the area’s soil nature and plant communities. 

• Stabilising causes 

Here climatic factors control the process of sterilisation in an area of plant communities. So while you define plant succession, mentioning its causes is also crucial. 

Characteristics of Succession in Plants

• Succession in plants refers to an organized process that results in the shifting of the specific habitat of the plant community
• It is the byproduct of changes in the biotic and abiotic factors
• It has the potential to bring stability to the plant community
• It causes gradual development in total biomass, variety of species, soil’s humus content, and niche specialization
• It develops from normal food chain processes to a more complicated food web
• It changes the simple and lower life forms and makes them higher life forms

• It brings interdependence among the animal and plant community

Types of Succession in Plants 

 As per our understanding of plant succession, there are multiple classifications of succession in plants based on varied aspects. They are as follows: 

• Primary succession 

The earliest plant community development in the barren area refers to primary succession in plants. These are also known as pioneer species. In general, primary succession in plants takes considerable time to emerge in any area. Some primary colonies’ communities include lichen, microbes, and mosses. 

• Secondary succession 

The secondary succession in plants usually takes less time to develop than primary succession. It represents the growth of a new plant community in a region where the previous plant community went through destruction due to natural causes. Some examples of secondary succession include the destruction of forest areas by the fire where herbs reoccupy the area over time. 

• Autogenic succession

Autogenic succession in plants takes place due to biotic factors. Here the existing card community reacts with its surrounding atmosphere and shifts its habitat. It enables them to replace their plant community with new species. This process is known as autogenic succession.

For example: When bigger trees in the forest ecosystem create broader leaves, it provides consistent shade to its ground region. Due to this growth of herbs and shrubs of the floor area get affected as they need more light to develop. However, it enables the growth of species that flourish in shaded areas (sciophytes).

• Allogenic succession

This type of succession in plants takes place due to abiotic factors. Here are external factors that result in replacing the prevailing plant community instead of other organisms. 

Example: Due to the soil erosion process in the forest ecosystem, soil’s nutritional value is reduced, which changes the region’s vegetation. 

• Autotrophic succession

In this type of succession in plants, autotrophic organisms such as green plantations are widespread at the initial stage of succession. Which type of succession takes place in an environment enriched with inorganic elements. 

There is a significant boost in energy flow and organic matter in autotrophic succession due to the domination of green plants in the early stage. 

• Heterotrophic succession

This type of succession in plants usually occurs in organic habitats. Here living organisms like actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi, and other animals dominate the initial phase of heterotrophic succession. Due to the domination of heterotrophs in the early stages, energy content decreases over time. 

Conclusion

Succession in plants regulator of our forest ecosystem brings suitable vegetation as per our existing environment. Here we learned a detailed plant succession definition and its varied types. Aside from this, we also went through a short but detailed overview of the causes and characteristics of succession in plants.