Ecological succession is... Two kinds of Succession: Primary & Secondary Primary succession is… Ecological succession is the sequence of community changes after a disturbance

The first colonizers are: An example after a glacier or v olcanic rock. Next, grasses and small plants move in and take over the scant soil. Their death adds to the soil. Next shrubs and pioneer tree species move into the area. Outgrow earlier species & add to the soil. Next intermediate species (Doug fir) move in. Add to soil, retain moisture, but shade the forest floor. Lastly, climax species grow in forest shade supplanting earlier species ( Western hemlock, & W. red cedar).

Secondary succession is: Grasses grow first, then trees and other organisms.

More than just communities change w/ succession, other factors also change, soil nutrients dramatically change over time.

Ecological succession in Glacier Bay