Ecological Succession of the Forest

Climax community refers to a forest where the forest ecosystem sustains stability for a long time according to the climate, achieving harmony among trees, grass, birds, and insects. For a forest to turn into a climax community with high preservation value from a barren land, it passes through several changes over hundreds of years; this is called ecological succession.*

The following is the process of the ecological succession of a forest: When a barren land is left untreated, lichens and mosses start growing, and after some time annual weeds grow, followed by perennial weeds. Afterwards, short trees settle down, and then taller trees start multiplying. First, shade-intolerant trees grow, and they are followed by shade-tolerant trees, which cause the shade-intolerant trees die as they block the sunlight. As time passes, the stronger and taller trees among the shade-tolerant trees cover the forest, creating a climax community.

Forests benefit humans in various ways and even save Earth. It is a result of changing calmly and continually although it seems to have stopped.


* The process of change in the plant community over time in the same place