Revision: 2.5 Zonation, succesion, and change in ecosystems

A change in communities across space along an environmental gradient

Recording organisms and environmental conditions along a line or strip across a habitat

Change in a community’s species composition over time as organisms colonise and modify an area

Primary succession begins on a surface without developed soil; secondary succession begins after a disturbance where soil remains

The first species to colonise a newly available or disturbed habitat

Soil, nutrients and often seeds or surviving organisms are already present

Any two of light, water, mineral nutrients or space

For example, a forest fire, flood, forest clearance or abandonment of farmland where soil remains