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What principle of the model of succession dictates that earlier species neither help nor hinder invading species in an orderly progression towards the climax community?

User Liftoff
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Final answer:

In ecological succession, the principle that early species neither aid nor inhibit later species as they advance towards a climax community is implied within the overall process of succession but does not have a specific name. It's a neutral process absent facilitation, driving towards a stable equilibrium state representative of the climax community.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle of the model of succession that dictates earlier species neither help nor hinder invading species as a community progresses towards a climax community is not specifically named but is implied within the broader concept of ecological succession. However, one could argue it loosely relates to the idea of neutralism, where species interact without directly benefiting or significantly harming each other.

Ecological succession is an orderly process where the community undergoes a series of changes, after which species replace one another until a relatively stable climax community is established. In this process, earlier species do not essentially facilitate the establishment of subsequent species.

This concept differs from facilitation, where earlier species changes the environment, making it more suitable for subsequent species. Instead, species replacement is primarily driven by their individual life cycles and competition for resources until the community reaches its equilibrium state, typical of the area's climate and geology.

Therefore, succession is an intrinsic characteristic of ecosystems following a disturbance, where species appear and disappear in a sequence over time without necessarily influencing each other's presence until the climax community is reached.

User FranXho
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