Pioneer species

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

In ecology a pioneer species is a plant species which colonises previously uncolonised land, usually leading to succession. Since uncolonised land usually has thin, poor quality soils with few nutrients pioneer species are typically very hardy plants, with adaptions such as long roots, root nodes containing nitrogen fixing bacteria, and leaves which reduce transpiration.

Pioneer species are often grasses, such as marram grass which grows on sand dunes.

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