Ecological succession

Succession

Describes the way an ecosystem changes over time.

The first stage is when the pioneer species cultivate the hostile land. 

Key features of a pioneer species are:

- Produce vast quantities of wind dispersed seeds which can germinate isolated areas

- Tolerant to extreme conditions

- Able to photosynthesise where nutrients are not available

- Able to fix atmospheric nitrogen

- Able to quickly germinate seeds on arival

An example of succession:

1) The weathering of a bare rock causes a layer of soil to form on the surface

2) Lichen, a pioneer species, are able to cultivate this hostile soil

3) The lichen die, increasing…