succession
succession The sequential change in vegetation either in response to an environmental change or induced by the intrinsic properties of the plants themselves. Classically, the term refers to the colonization of a new physical environment by a series of vegetation communities until a final equilibrium state, the climax, is achieved. The presence of the colonizers, the pioneer plants, modifies the environment so that new species can join or replace the initial colonizers. Changes are rapid at first but slow to a more or less imperceptible rate at the climax stage. The characteristic sequence of developmental stages, i.e. nudation, migration, ecesis, competition, reaction, and stabilization, is termed a sere.
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