What is the role of a pioneer species in primary succession

The role of pioneer species in primary succession is to increase the diversity of a habitat after undergoing a disturbance making the soil stable and fertile for other organisms to inhabit.

Pioneer species are the first species to inhabit an area after it has undergone ecological succession.

Further explanation Pioneer species  Pioneer species are the first organisms that invades an area after a disturbance to normalize it, thus making it habitable by other organisms. Pioneer species include microorganisms and organisms such as Fungi, algae, and Lichen, as well as abiotic factors such as water and wind. These organisms pave way for other organisms to grow in an area. Pioneer species are therefore the first stage of ecological succession and are usually hardy organisms that can withstand hostile environments.

There are two types of Ecological succession;

Primary succession;

This is a type of succession that takes place in lifeless areas as a result of disturbances such as glaciers, lava flow from volcanoes, sand dunes, etc. These regions are not capable of sustaining life of organisms as a result of the disturbances caused by those factors. Secondary succession  Secondary succession is an ecological succession that results from disturbances such as forest fires, abandoned field or after occurrence of floods. The difference between the two types of ecological succession is the fact that; primary succession starts with bare rocks while secondary succession starts with existing soil and dirt. Additionally, it takes about a thousand years for primary succession to develop while secondary succession takes about a 100 or more years to develop.

Keywords; Pioneer species, Primary succession, secondary succession

Learn about; Primary succession; link Stages of ecological succession; link

Level High school

Subject: Biology  

Topic: Ecology  

Sub-topic: Ecological succession