Pioneer plant

A pioneer plant is one that is adapated to an environment where there was no previous life. Examples of such environments include:

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:Barren rock - Lithoseres (often after volcanic eruptions)

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:Barren sand - Psammoseres

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:Salt water - Haloseres

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:Clear water - Hydroseres

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(A sere is a stage in a sequence of events by which the vegetation of an area develops and becomes more complex.)

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The plants will be specially adapted to the extremes that may be experienced, and once they have modified the environment may be out-competed by less specific plants, eventually leading to a climax community. Examples of the plants and organisms that colonise such areas are:

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:Barren rock - blue-green bacteria,

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:Barren sand - lyme grass, sea couch grass, marram grass

Related Topics:
Lyme grass - Sea couch grass - Marram grass

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:Salt water - green algae, eel grass, Salicornia townsendii and Spartina townsendii

Related Topics:
Green algae - Eel grass - Salicornia townsendii - Spartina townsendii

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:Clear water - Algae, mosses

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