Darwinbots Forum

General => Biology => Topic started by: Numsgil on September 11, 2006, 02:45:02 AM

Title: Ecological Succession
Post by: Numsgil on September 11, 2006, 02:45:02 AM

I'm trying to program a model of Ecological Succession (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.

Title: Ecological Succession
Post by: Jez on September 11, 2006, 11:47:29 AM

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 (http://www.soilfoodweb.com/03_about_us/approach_pgs/a_06_succession.html)

physicalgeography.net (http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9i.html)

Title: Ecological Succession
Post by: Numsgil on September 11, 2006, 02:13:03 PM

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.