Woodland Succession in Britain Josh de Salles

Succession is a long-term change in the composition of communities. Unlike the action of seasons and natural disasters, succession is brought about by the activities of living organisms themselves who inhabit the environment. Over a period of time the environment is modified by these organisms so it becomes suitable for colonisation by another species and less suitable for those already there. These original species cannot compete with the new species better equipped to exploit the …

…the introduction of myxomatosis to the rabbit population of Britain in the 1950's the regeneration of woodland has become a problem in some areas where conservationists are trying to preserve chalk grassland. As a reduction of both rabbit and domestic grazing, young saplings of shrubs and trees survive and the climax community lowers the light intensity and rare plants such as orchids die out due to being out competed by scrub plants and eventually, woodland.