Woodland regeneration at kybalup . Eucalyptus salubris, E. cylindroidea, E. occidentalis, Acacia redolans and Austradenthonia caespitosa are prominent. Photo N. McQuoid. Disturbance Disturbance in the case of natural communities is a term used to describe an event the affects vegetation and soil. It may remove plants directly or alter the environment to favour other species.
Disturbance brings about the opportunity for communities to recruit or replace themselves.
A disturbance creates conditions that trigger plants to germinate either from seed or to re-sprout or both. Pioneer plants Native pioneer plants, sometimes called colonising plants, are naturally 'weedy' and respond quickly to occupy an area that has been affected by a disturbance. Native grasses, ground covers, poison plants and many wattles are great Australian pioneer plants. Many introduced weeds are also pioneer plants that unfortunately, are often more efficient colonisers than the native pioneer species, and can quickly dominate landscapes. Disturbed sites need to be managed to favour native pioneer plants and to control weeds.