Product Code Database
Pioneer species are resilient species that are the first to colonize barren environments, or to repopulate disrupted biodiversity steady-state as part of ecological succession. Various kinds of events can create good conditions for pioneers, including disruption by , such as wildfire, flood, mudslide, lava flow or a climate change extinction event, or by anthropogenic habitat destruction, such as through Land clearing for agriculture or construction or industrial damage. Pioneer species play an important role in creating soil in primary succession, and stabilizing soil and nutrients in secondary succession.
Because pioneer species quickly occupy disrupted spaces, they are sometimes treated as or nuisance wildlife by humans, such as the common dandelion or Urtica dioica. Even though humans have mixed relationships with these plants, these species tend to help improve the ecosystem because they can break up compacted soils and accumulate nutrients that help with a transition back to a more mature ecosystem. In human-managed ecological restoration or agroforestry, trees and herbaceous pioneers can be used to restore soil qualities and provide shelter for slower growing or more demanding plants. Some systems use introduced species to restore the ecosystem, or for environmental remediation. The durability of pioneer species can also make them potential invasive species.
The plants that are often pioneer species tend to be Anemophily rather than insect-pollinated, as insects are unlikely to be present in the usually barren conditions in which pioneer species grow. Pioneer species also tend to reproduce asexually altogether, as the extreme or barren conditions make it more favourable to reproduce asexually in order to increase reproductive success rather than invest energy into sexual reproduction. Pioneer species eventually die, create plant litter, and break down as "leaf mold" after some time, making new soil for secondary succession, and releasing nutrients for small fish and in adjacent bodies of water.
Some examples of pioneering plant species in various habitats:
Though in general are not considered pioneer species, there are exceptions. ( Epidalea calamita) are specialists in open, sparsely vegetated habitats which may be at an early seral community. Wide-ranging generalists visit early succession stage habitats, but are not obligate species of those habitats because they use a mosaic of different habitats.
Vertebrates can affect early seral stages. may alter plant growth. Fossorial mammals could alter soil and plant community development. In a profound example, a bird colony transfers considerable nitrogen into infertile soils, thereby altering plant growth. A keystone species may facilitate the introduction of pioneer species by creating new ecological niche. For example, may flood an area, allowing new species to immigrate.
Due to harsh impacts from grazing livestock in certain areas, soils may be degraded by erosion, resulting in shallow soils. In restoration efforts, certain pioneer species are used which can withstand poor growing conditions. Black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia) is often used to restore post-grazing pastures, because it can grow in eroded environments and has nitrogen-fixing abilities, which add nutrients to the soil and improve the chance of success for other plant species. Over time, black locust adds organic matter and increases the depth of soil, which helps other species of plants reestablish.
Pioneer species tend to be fast-growing, shade-intolerant, and tend to reproduce large numbers of offspring quickly. The seeds of pioneer species can sometimes remain viable for years or decades in the soil seed bank and often are triggered to sprout by disturbance. Mycorrhizal fungi have a powerful influence on the growth of pioneer species.
Some examples of the plants in such areas include:
|
|
