succession

a following of one thing after another in time; "the doctor saw a sequence of patients"

a group of people or things arranged or following in order; "a succession of stalls offering soft drinks"; "a succession of failures"

the action of following in order; "he played the trumps in sequence"

(ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established

acquisition of property by descent or by will