Ecology
Ecological Succession
The predictable, directional change in community composition over time following a disturbance. Pioneer species colonize first, gradually replaced by species better adapted to the changing environment they create.
Biological Context
After a forest fire, grasses and herbs appear first (pioneer stage), followed by shrubs, then fast-growing trees, finally slow-growing climax forest species. Each stage modifies the environment, making it suitable for the next. Succession can take decades to centuries.
Business Application
Markets undergo succession: pioneers establish categories (early websites), followed by optimizers (search engines), then consolidators (platforms). Understanding where a market is in succession reveals appropriate strategies.