successional
Definition
- Adjective: Relating to or characterized by succession; occurring in a sequence or order, especially in ecological or biological contexts.
Usage Examples
- (The phases of ecological change that follow one another in a predictable order.)
- (The natural sequence of changes in community composition over time.)
Advanced Usage
"successional change": a shift in species composition or community structure over time.
- Successional change in abandoned farmland leads to the establishment of woody plants. (The gradual replacement of one plant community by another.)
"successional status": the position of a species or community in a successional sequence.
- Pioneer species have a low successional status, while climax species are at the end of the sequence. (The stage of development within an ecological succession.)
Variants and Related Words
Succession (n): the process of one thing following another in a sequence, especially in ecology.
- Ecological succession describes the predictable changes in a community over time.
Successive (adj): following one another in order.
- The team won three successive championships. (Consecutive championships.)
Synonyms
- Sequential: occurring in a fixed or logical order.
- Consecutive: following continuously without interruption.
- Serial: arranged in or forming a series.
Related Idioms
"in succession": one after another without interruption.
- The events happened in rapid succession. (They occurred quickly, one after the other.)
"a succession of": a series of things that follow each other.
- A succession of storms damaged the coastline. (A sequence of storms.)