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