1. Ecological Succession

2. Ecological Succession
Ecological Succession – the process by which an existing community is slowly replaced by another community

4. Dominant Species
Dominant Species – the species that exerts the greatest effects on the environment and on other members of the community

5. Pioneer Organisms
Pioneer Organisms – the first organisms to live in an area
Ex. bacteria, fungi, grass, lichens

6. Climax Community
Climax Community – a mature, stable community that is the final stage of ecological succession

7. Primary Succession
Primary Succession – when succession occurs in an area that has no existing life or becomes a new community for the first time.
Ex. Lichens growing on a bare rock
Ex. An aquatic community becomes a terrestrial community

8. Secondary Succession
Secondary Succession – succession that occurs in an area in which an existing community has been partially destroyed and its balance upset
Ex. A forest fire partially burns a forest down and it takes 20 years to get the forest back to a climax community