Ecological succession is a gradual and predictable change in the plant and animal communities that occupy an area over time. The stages of ecological succession are often divided into different phases, which are characterized by a different set of plant and animal species. Some of the synonyms for the stages of ecological succession include early successional stage, middle successional stage, and late successional stage. Other synonyms used to describe these stages include pioneer, climax, and seral. Pioneer species are the first to establish in the early stages of succession, while climax species are the stable and dominant species that inhabit the final stages of succession. Seral species, on the other hand, are intermediate species that occur between pioneer and climax communities.