Question

With reference to ecological succession define the following terms:
a. Climax community
b. Sere(s)
c. Pioneer species

Answer 1

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time is called Ecological succession. However, the time scale can include the duration of many decades (for example, after a wildfire), or even millions of years after mass extermination. It is said that any such community normally begins with relatively few pioneering plants and animals. Further, it can develop through increasing complexity until it turns out to be stable or self-perpetuating as a climax community.

Complete answer:
a. We can say that a stable, self-perpetuating, and final community that appears in an area is called a Climax community. Actually, such types of communities have appeared at the end of biotic succession. Such types of Climax community are said to be in perfect harmony with the climate of the area.

b. An intermediate developmental stage found in ecological succession in an ecosystem is called Sere. This is a stage that is moving on the way to its climax.

c. The species which recolonize an area after there has been damage to the ecosystem are said to be the Pioneers of that ecosystem. It is said that these types of plants are the hardiest plants that can survive with little nutrition such as lichens.

Note: We can say that the ecological succession is a spectacle or process by which an ecological community experiences more or less orderly and predictable changes following a disturbance. It can occur due to the initial colonization of a new habitat. The primary successions are the succession that begins in new habitats that are uninfluenced by pre-existing communities. However, the successions that trail commotion of a pre-existing community are called secondary succession.