Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Ecological Succession and Community Dynamics
Herman H. (Hank) Shugart
Glossary
Abstract
community
A group of organisms that recurs on the landscape with an
implication of a level of integration among its parts that in
extreme could be called organismal or quasi-organismal
(see: Concrete Community).
Chronosequence
A space-for-time substitution in which the successional
vegetation is ordered in a regular fashion. An example
would be the series of vegetation at the foot of a receding
glacier or a series of sand dunes ordered in regularly aged
series.
Clementsian
succession
An explanation of succession emphasizing the attributes of
the community as if it functioned like a single living
organism (see: Abstract Community).
Climax
community
An ecological community associated with a particular cli-
mate and in a state of dynamic equilibrium with the cli-
mate. The American ecologist, F.E. Clements, designated
the climax community as the endpoint of ecological suc-
cession for a given climate condition and noted the com-
mon Greek root
(
clima
) or inclination, in both
climax and climate as indicating their close relationship.
kl
ί
ma
Concrete community
The collection of organisms found at a specific place and
time (see: Abstract Community).
