Explain what primary succession is and give some real world examples. Explain what secondary succession is and distinguish it from primary succession. Describe how living components in the ecosystem change nonliving components during succession. Explain what disclimax is and how some ecosystems are maintained in a state of disclimax.
Pioneer species colonize site following disturbance.
Pioneer species tend to change the environment favoring the growth of other species that could not have colonized the same site earlier. The text definition is misleading. Pioneer plants, such as lichens and mosses, become established on the bare mineral substrate from spores or seeds that are blown, washed, or carried in by animals. Volcanic eruption Following the eruption, there is no life in the blast zone. Eventually, however, pioneer species of plants do establish themselves, beginning the course of succession.