noun · academic
succession
UK/səkˈsɛʃ(ə)n/US/səkˈsɛʃən/suc·CES·sion
the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, especially after disturbance
Examples
“After the fire the area underwent secondary succession, with grasses colonising first.”
“Primary succession on new volcanic rock can take centuries.”
“Ecologists study successional stages to understand how habitats mature.”
Band 8 sentence
“After volcanic eruptions, primary succession can eventually lead to a fully developed forest over centuries.”
Collocations
- primary succession
- secondary succession
- successional stages
Word family
Common mistakes
success after disturbance→succession after disturbance
the forest is in success stage→the forest is in a successional stage
Say it for a higher band
5change→6development→7+succession
Synonyms
ecological development
Easily confused
success
“After the old manager left, there was confusion about succession, but the company's success did not depend on that alone.”
Related words
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In Nature & Animals
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