Kamenolom Vyšný
Early stages of ecological succession
Ecological succession is a non-seasonal, directional and continuous process of colonization and extinction of species populations at a particular site. The process of ecological succession continuously takes place in all ecosystems in connection with disturbances that repeatedly disrupt or destroy the communities. Ecological succession, which occurs in newly exposed areas of the terrain, and in which no abiotic effects are gradually changing, is called autogenous or endogenous. This succession therefore ends with the exhaustion of the resource and the extinction of the community bound to this resource. Pioneer species, which colonize newly created or relaxed habitats – in water reservoirs of quarries, are seedling plants in the beginning. They prepare the land for settlement for other types of organisms that are better suited to specific environmental conditions. According to this approach, the succession need not be purely a process driven by interspecies interactions and autogenous modification of local conditions. The succession can only reflect the high vitality of a certain kind – its ability to spread and the ability to survive in a given place with specific environmental conditions. The climax of ecological succession in most parts of the Czech Republic is the forest. In the Vyšný quarry, communities of pioneer plant species occur on a substantial part of the surface of the bottom. The herbal floor is almost not here at all. The bush and tree floor is very sparse. The ecological succession on the mining walls and the quarry perimeter is more advanced. There were broad-leaved plants, high stalk grasses and occasionally forest.
