Fast Follower Advantage

Biological Parallel

Fast followers are opportunistic species that let pioneers do the hard work of niche construction, then invade with superior adaptations. Once lichens create soil on bare rock, fast-growing grasses and shrubs outcompete them for space. Followers avoid pioneer costs (toxin tolerance, extreme conditions) while benefiting from improved habitat. The strategy: wait for pioneers to prove the niche viable and modify the environment, then move in with specialized competitive advantages. This is succession's core dynamic—each wave creates conditions that favor its replacement.