What is ecological succession?

Question

What happens to biodiversity, interrelationships and biomass during succession? What is the climax community and how are they important?

Answer 1

Ecological succession is the progression of species in a community over time.  It begins with pioneer species that colonize a new area.  Their presence and activity make the habitat more suitable for other species which then move in.  And so on.  

Generally biodiversity and biomass increase as succession progresses.  Relationships between species become more complex as biodiversity increases.  

The climax community is the assemblage of species that will be present if succession is allowed to continue uninterrupted.  They are stable communities.  Very often climax communities are not attained or are not allowed to exist for very long.  Disturbances like storms or fires destroy climax communities and allow succession to begin anew.