SUCCESSION - A Gradual Change in the Landscape
Communities change over time as a result of several factors including physical disturbances, climate change & invasion of new species.
Following a major disturbance, a community undergoes a semi-orderly change in species composition over many years. If the disturbance
removes soil & all living things, such as when a lava flow occurs, the community change is called primary succession.
If the disturbance removes only some species and the soil is still present, such as when forest trees are cut down,
this process is called secondary succession. In primary succession the first species to become established are called pioneer species.
