A hydrosere is a plant succession which occurs in an area of fresh water such as in oxbow lakes and kettle lakes. In time, an area of open freshwater will naturally dry out, ultimately becoming woodland. During this change, a range of different landtypes such as swamp and marsh will succeed each other.
Mute swan (Cygnus olor) in a hydrosere community at sunrise.
Water surface of a pond nearly covered by vegetation
Ecological succession is the process of change in the species that make up an ecological community over time.
Succession after disturbance: a boreal forest one year (left) and two years (right) after a wildfire.
The Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan, which stimulated Cowles' development of his theories of ecological succession
Secondary succession: trees are colonizing uncultivated fields and meadows.
A hydrosere community