Chapter 3 Communities and Biomes Communities Life in a Community Limiting factor: any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms. Tolerance: the ability of an organism to withstand fluctuations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors Succession: Changes over Time Succession: the orderly, natural changes and species replacements that take place in the communities of an ecosystem Succession occurs in stages. At each stage, different species of plants and animals may be present. Primary succession: the colonization of barren land by communities of organisms The first species to take hold in an area like this are called pioneer species.