Table 1. Characteristics of community development. 



Community variable 



Ecological succession 



Early stages 



Late stages 



Community energetics 



Primary production to community 

 respiration 



Production to standing crop 

 biomass 



Food chain 



Community structure 

 Total organic matter 

 Species diversity 



Small 

 Low 



Large 

 High 



Nutrient cycl ing 

 Mineral cycle 



Open 



Closed 



Homeostasis 

 Stability 



Poor 



Good 



36 



