The processes involved in attaining ecological success are very 

 different for a plant growing alone or in a spaced planting such 

 as a corn field, where the relations are chiefly with the physical 

 environment, than for a plant growing in a dense vegetation 

 composed of many species, as in a meadow. The ecological suc- 

 cess of a species may be measured or described according to quan- 

 titative and qualitative characteristics of the community, such as 

 numerical abundance, cover, frequency, vitality, and other fea- 

 tures, as discussed in Chapter 2. 



The perennial bunchgrass, little bluestem {Andropogon scoparius), 

 may be taken as an example of a highly successful species, judg- 

 ing by its wide distribution, abundance or dominance, and per- 



Figure 1-26. The perennial bunchgrass, little bluestem 

 {Andropogon scoparius), is a highly successful species. Here 

 it is shown growing in excellent condition on stony soil in 

 Texas. (U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service.) 



