sere

Sere is a term in ecology used to describe a sequential progression of plant communities that replace one another over time in a particular environment as ecological succession proceeds after a disturbance, soil development, or environmental change. A sere encompasses the entire trajectory from initial colonization through intermediate stages to a late-successional or climax community.

In classic models, a sere comprises a series of seral stages, such as pioneer communities (characterized by rapid colonizers), early-successional communities, mid-successional communities, and late-successional communities. The endpoint is conditioned by climate and soil properties, and disturbances influence the trajectory. Traditional ecology often framed the endpoint as a climax community adapted to the local climate, but modern perspectives recognize that multiple outcomes are possible and that climax concepts may be too simplistic; some ecosystems experience continual disturbance, leading to ongoing change or multiple stable states.

Disturbances drive sere formation: natural events like fire, windthrow, flooding, landslides, or human activities such as agriculture and urban development can reset progression or alter its path. Researchers study seral sequences using chronosequences, comparing sites of different ages to infer temporal change.

Common examples include ecological progressions on bare rock or mineral soil, where lichens and mosses give way to grasses, shrubs, and eventually trees, or secondary successions after agricultural abandonment.

Sere is primarily used in vegetation science and ecology. It may also appear in discussions of succession theory and landscape dynamics.