The first species to colonize a site is known as a pioneer species. The final, stable set of plant species is known as the climax community. The theory of ecological succession, first developed by F. C. Clements in 1916, describes this process of change from one plant community to another. Ecological succession is defined as a predictable, unwavering order of events within the plant community, along with corresponding changes within the physical environment, that lead to a predictable order of plant communities culminating in a single, regional climax community. Current thinking in ecology is less rigid, but a definite order of plant can be seen in the Provincelands.

Beachgrass, because of its ability to thrive in barren soil, is the pioneer species in this ecological region. One of the characteristics of succession is that beginning species alter the environment to make it more favorable for succeeding species. Beachgrass begins to alter the environment by dying and decomposing. Decaying organic matter forms micelles (soil sized particles) that have many available electrons capable of holding the positively charged plant nutrients and preventing them from leaching or flowing through the soil profile. As this organic matter increases, the soil becomes richer or more fertile. My study showed that increasing soil organic matter corresponded with increasingly more complex plant communities and that different communities could be arranged linearly along a gradient of increasing organic matter.

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