Question

What is meant by ecological succession? Differentiate between the pioneer community and the climax community.

Answer 1

Ecological succession is the process by which plant communities develop over some time on the land where there is no vegetation. Succession begins with pioneer species and ends with a climax community.

Step by step answer: Succession is a process in which different plant communities replaced at a barren place over time. The succession begins with a pioneer species such as lichens, some fungi species. Species such as lichen begins to secrete acids that begin to break the barren land into small particles. The small particles mix with lichen remains and starts soil formation. In addition to soil more diverse plant species such as bryophytes and pteridophytes grow. Later on, a series of transitional developments of plant communities one after another in a given area are called seral communities. In the end, a final stage and a final plant community get established which is called a climax community.
In this way, species diversity tends to increase as a result of ecological succession.
Difference between the pioneer community and climax community:
Pioneer community:
1. It is the first biotic community that develops in the bare area is called the pioneer community.
2. Pioneer community consists of a fewer small-sized such lichen, some fungi.
3.The life span of the pioneer organisms is short but growth is fast.
Climax community:
1. Climax community are the final stage of biotic succession attainable by a plant community in an area previously occupied by several communities under the environmental conditions present at a particular time. For example, mature lived tree species.
2. Climax community consists of large and small-sized organisms and the growth is of community is slow.
3. The life span of component organisms is generally long.

Note: Ecological succession is the evolution of plant communities at a barren place over time beginning from pioneer species to climax vegetation.