Succession

(1) The progressive replacement of plant communities on a site which leads to the potential natural plant community, i.e., attaining stability. Primary succession entails simultaneous successions of soil from parent material and vegetation. Secondary succession occurs following disturbances on sites that previously supported vegetation, and entails plant succession on a more mature soil. (2) The progressive development of vegetation toward its highest ecological expression, the climax replacement of one plant community by another. [Source: USDA National Plant Materials Manual]