ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cyclic succession

Cyclic succession is like playing with building blocks to create a big tower. First, you start with a base and then you add more blocks on top of it. As you keep adding blocks, the tower gets taller and taller. But sometimes, the tower falls down and you have to start all over again.

The same thing happens in nature. Cyclic succession is the process of how different kinds of plants and animals grow and change in an area over a period of time. Just like building a tower, the process of cyclic succession starts with some basic plants and animals that build the foundation. Over time, new plants and animals move in and take over until the cycle starts all over again.

For example, let's say we have an open field. First, grass and weeds will grow on the ground. Then, small bushes and trees will start growing around the edges of the field. As the trees get bigger, they provide shade for the grass and weeds, so they start to die off. This allows different kinds of plants to grow, and new animals move in that prefer the new environment.

Then, maybe a storm or a fire comes and destroys everything. The cycle starts over again with the grass and weeds growing back and new plants and animals moving in. This process can happen over and over again, creating a cycle of different plant and animal communities over time.

So, cyclic succession is just like building a tower with building blocks, but in nature, it's the process of different plants and animals growing and changing in an area over time, in a repeating cycle.