Index >> Fundamentals of Microbial Ecology >> Outcome of Succession

As the habitat is colonised and amended, the number of species able to grow increases. The final stage in a sere is the climax where there is a dynamic equilibrium between the organism and the environment and usually has great species diversity. Each ecosystem tries to become stable at some point and they tend to be stable in terms of the species present. Though individuals come and go and the balance between the species vary slightly, the overall list of organisms remain stable. Thus stability is not related to diversity but it is imposed from outside, as for example, communities in hot thermal springs have a low species diversity but are very stable because of the environment.

Succession occurs mostly as a result of the influence of physical and chemical changes originating outside the community. Community succession begins with colonisation or invasion of it. habitat by microbial population.