General > Biology

Ecological Succession

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Numsgil:
I'm trying to program a model of Ecological Succession but I'm having a hard time understanding (or even finding information on) the specifics.

I get why grasses appear first.  I get why once a forest shows up there isn't much undercanopy growth.  What I don't get is how grassess give way to bushes and eventually trees.  I know it's that bushes outcompete grasses and trees outcompete bushes, I just don't get how they outcompete.

I think it has to do with root depth, shade tolerance, and things like that.

What are the specifics exactly.

Jez:
I always think of it in terms of soil nutrition but that is more Primary Succession, it can be a very diverse subject, try these links:

soilfoodweb.com

physicalgeography.net

Numsgil:
Those are good links.  I had a feeling that soil quality and soil bacteria might have something to do with it.

I'll read them over in a bit when I have the chance.

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