Bioecosystem succession as a chrono-chorological phenomenon

Abstract

The article discusses some aspects of succession theory that have been unfairly left in the shadow of the “monumental foundations” laid by the classics of phytocoenology. Recently microbiologists, zoologists and soil scientists display increased interest in successions, resulting in changes and amendments of some original concepts. Taking soil invertebrates as an example, the author shows that, rather than being spontaneous changes of biota in time, successions are regulated mechanisms of regeneration and ordering of disturbed bioecosystems in accordance with the standards of respective geobiomes. Successions are not solely chronological, but chrono-chorological mechanisms of bioecosystems’ self-organization, governed by both biotic and abiotic factors. Among the latter topo-catenas of habitats, located as a chain along the mesorelief profile, are of crucial importance. Such catenas play the key role in the content and identification of cenotic strategies and adaptive tactics of biota, as well as in consolidating heterochronic communities of different catenary positions into intercalary meta-successions. Succession and evolution, despite repeated attempts to analogize these processes, are semantically incompatible. The aim of the evolution is to increase biodiversity by adding novel elements, which leads to unpredictable results. Successions aim at preserving the accumulated positive ecological experience, resisting the evolutionary novelties.