The biological association that contributes directly to succession in a communit...

In ecological succession, the development of a biological community occurs over time, typically following a disturbance or the formation of a new habitat. Succession can be primary or secondary, and it involves a series of changes in species composition, leading to the establishment of a stable and mature community.

Competition is the biological association that contributes directly to succession in a community. It occurs when two or more organisms require the same limited resource, such as food, water, or space. In the early stages of succession, competition is intense due to the limited availability of resources. As succession progresses, species that are better adapted to the changing environment have a competitive advantage and are more likely to survive and reproduce. This leads to a gradual shift in species composition and the establishment of a more diverse and stable community.

While other biological associations, such as predation, parasitism, and commensalism, can influence community structure and dynamics, they do not directly contribute to the process of succession. Predation refers to the interaction between a predator and its prey, which can regulate population sizes but does not directly drive the changes in species composition during succession. Parasitism involves a relationship between a parasite and its host, where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms where one benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor benefited. These relationships can affect individual species within a community but do not have the same direct impact on the overall process of succession as competition does.