Ecological succession, a term that was coined in the 19th century, is described as the process that biological communities undergo as a result of natural or anthropogenic activities. The term ‘succession’ was first adopted by French naturalist, Adolphe Dureau de la Malle, and was popularized to explain the theoretical framework of how our ecosystems evolve over a period of time. It is a classical phenomenon that concerns the changes ecological communities experience — primary or secondary— and presents scientists with the groundwork to understand the disturbances that affect ecosystems directly. In context to our current world, recent studies have concluded that understanding the importance of ecological succession is imperative due to the unprecedented rate of climate change. Hence, the study surrounding this issue reinforces how ecological succession is exacerbated by global warming to provide a lens into how plant and microbial organisms respond to the disturbances in the world. 

Unquestionably, ecological succession is used as the basis to the study of ecology and underscores the many changes to our global biodiversity. It plays a critical role in the modern understanding of ecological restoration and the heightened changes seen in remote ecosystems. Understanding both primary and secondary succession is key to this article: primary occurs in an environment without previous life and secondary succession in an area that had been inhabited but suffered a disturbance. In the past, precursors used the term to study the varying and intermittent effects of these changes seen in their field of study; it was officially used to understand the process of vegetation development after clearcutting and was popularized as a scientific term. Unfortunately, the sudden changes to our global environment and drastic anomalies in the world’s climate have transformed the idea behind ecological succession to focus on the dying ecosystems on our planet. Thus, scientists have proposed that its understanding provides a strong reasoning to how human activities can adversely affect the biological underworkings of a particular ecosystem. 

The factors that can influence the successional changes in an ecosystem vary, however, gravitate towards a few that are more commonly in effect. This would include the site conditions, character of the events that catalyzed succession and the weather conditions at the time of disturbance. Predominantly, the two most important perturbation factors are linked to human activities and the issue of climate change. All factors listed have contributed to the predictability of an ecosystem’s succession rate and have either enhanced the ecosystem, or more often deteriorated the habitat. For example, land degradation for commercial use results in habitat fragmentation to subsequently endanger species of animals native to the area and even its unique plants. As well, any significant changes to the abiotic condition of an environment can negatively lead to the deterioration of plant diversity and result in unfortunate repercussions to hinder community development. The following changes heightened by human activity have continued to threaten ecosystems excessively and exposed native organisms to further vulnerability. 

In addition, the rapid rise in the global temperature has only continued to endanger the wellbeing of the organisms residing in these fragile ecological spheres, but forces communities situated there to be gravely disadvantaged. Therefore, the drastic changes that result has caused many communities to tolerate the environmental disparities of succession and bear its heavy burden. When coupled with other environmental issues, these communities who are unguarded from the changes in their surrounding environment are subjected to great uncertainty. The literal architecture of an ecosystem can unfavorably affect the resource development in a community and disrupt the possibility of arable land or futile soil to sustain residents nearby. Stress factors from natural and human disturbances can continuously alter the natural environment of the area to affect the many abiotic features of the landscape. Each specific disturbance that occurs in an ecosystem will leave a different kind of signature and cause irreversible ramifications to the network of biological species inhabiting the area. Subsequently, the populations that allow a habitat to thrive and be self-perpetuating will diminish uncontrollably. The risk associated with declining biodiversity is the downward spiral for residents in the area and will inevitably lead to the loss of an ecosystem. Without the organisms to sustain the environment, the complex web to provide food for a community, water resource and other elements of life will deteriorate eventually. Individuals will endure significant changes to their lifestyles and suffer from a nightmare without access to local food or drinkable water sources. The perils of rapid succession can be crippling and devastating for remote communities given the drastic changes surrounding their livelihood. From ecological succession to a loss of biodiversity, the effects are conspicuous and are ought to be addressed before it is completely irreversible. 

Environmental justice in relation to the rapid ecological succession seen in the world is becoming increasingly alarming and unprotected. Sadly, a series of communities are suffering from the ecological succession rates seen in their lives and the pattern of unpredictability has amplified the devastating changes they yield to each day. The rapid changes along with the lack of environmental redress has left many poverty-stricken and unable to ensure they are equipped with the basic necessities of life. Biological populations have suffered indefinitely and succession rates are variable due to climate change seen worldwide. As we continue to progress towards our future, mitigating the effects of global warming will be necessary to ameliorate the severity of ecological succession in our fragile ecosystems. Without immediate changes, our world will lose its ability to be self-sustaining and ecological succession will remain an issue that is difficult to swallow.