| Term | Definition | Detail |
| Succession | Changes that take place in plant communities over time as conditions change | |
| Psammosere | A plant succession that developes on sand dunes | |
| Pioneer Species | Species that colonise pristine environments | They need not be very tolerant and flexible
eg. SPARTINA on mud flats |
| Seral Stage | Stage in succession from colonisation to climax | (blank) |
| Sub-climax | Plant community that is inhibited from reaching its climax by natural factors | (blank) |
| Plagio-climax | A stable community formed as a result of human activity | (blank) |
| Climax | A stable community at the end of a succession that is in balance with prevailing abiotic conditions | (blank) |
| Prisere | A succession developing from a bare surface | i.e Mud flats |
| Colonisation | The arrival and establishement of plants in an area | (blank) |
| Species | Variety of plant that can interbreed with other memebers of a plant group | (blank) |
| Successional Processes | Processes that take place in a succession such as colonisation | (blank) |
| Mud Flats | Areas of fine silt and sediment deposited by marine action in sheltered zones | (blank) |
| Creeks | Shallow tidal inlets associated with mud flats | (blank) |
| Embryo Dune | Accumulation of sand that preceeds stable dune formation on which plant colonisation can begin | (blank) |
| Fixed dune | Dune that has been stabalised with a climax plant community of psammomere | (blank) |
| Dune degradation | Dune damage that often begins with "blow-outs" - frequently initiated by human action | (blank) |
