After disturbance to existing vegetation Soil remains:seed bank may remain Micro-succession and'gap dynamics'in forests Forest as shifting mosaic of different successional ages How long does succession last?(When)is climax community reached? Disturbance at any stage can set back to earlier seral stage Periodic disturbance can keep at subelimax stage Predictable patters in succession Communities are most diverse.complex,and productive at intermediate stages. Ratio of biomass to productivity increases Net accumulation of biomass slowsand stops. Greater proportion ofriesresides in oranie ter thn in soil. Animal communities follow stages of plant succession How study succession? Direct-can do for early stages Indirect for longer periods change through time by comparing plots of Tree cores Life history differences influence species place insere -selected pioneer species succession many.small seeds with high dispersal ability long seed dormancy rapid growth and small mature size