Research news on succession (biological)

In biology, succession refers to the directional, predictable change in species composition and ecosystem structure over time following a disturbance or the creation of new substrate. It encompasses primary succession, initiated on previously uninhabited surfaces lacking soil (e.g., lava flows, glacial retreats), and secondary succession, occurring where communities are removed but soils and propagules remain. Succession involves colonization, establishment, and competitive replacement of species, driven by interactions among organisms, resource availability, and abiotic conditions. It results in changes in biomass, productivity, nutrient cycling, and community complexity, often trending toward a relatively stable, late-successional or “climax” community under given environmental regimes.