Succession

Succession begins when a plot of land becomes disturbed to the point where new plants are able to establish themselves. The plant life currently localized in the immediate plot becomes disturbed and the land slowly regenerates its plant life in a number of stages that are defined by annual plants which invade the barren land and begin to sprout. Then the next step is the perennial plants and grasses which will move in next and open up the area to the small shrubs. These small woody shrubs move in after these grasses and will take up the most sunlight. Softwood trees move in next, like pines and aspen trees. The final step of the process is the hardwood trees that travel the slowest and grow the largest.

The process of succession is a repeating and renewing part of the landscape, seen when fields are mowed and then left to grow over, when clear cutting takes place, and natural events like fires, windstorms and other natural disasters set succesion back and allow for its rebirth.