Hafiz Akmal 1

BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

STUDYING THE PROCESS OF

COLONISATION AND SUCCESSION
a)Explain the process of ecological colonization
and succession
The process in which living organisms arrive at new habitat,
live, reproduce and take control of the habitat is known as
colonisation. The first species of organisms to colonise a new
habitat is called the pioneer species.
The pioneer species have special adaptations to survive in
unfavourable land conditions. The pioneer species gradually
changes the conditions of the habitat, making it no longer
suitable for itself but more suitable for other species, called the
succession species. Gradually, the successor species takes over
the place of the pioneer species.
The process whereby a pioneer species is gradually replace
by other successor species is called succession. Succession will
carry on until a relatively stable community is known as the
climax community.
In Malaysia, the tropical rainforest is the climax community.
It usually takes hundreds of years to form a climax community.
After that it has little or no changes in its species structure.
Therefore, we should treasures our forest.
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

b)What are the pioneer species?

Pioneer species are the first living species that occupy an
area previously unoccupied by living organisms. They have
specialized characteristics to adapt to the area.
In terrestrial sites, there are often microorganisms, mosses,
lichens and some specialized flowering plants that can
withstand harsh environmental conditions and very low levels
of nutrients.
The pioneer species add organic materials to the mineral
particles. They gradually after the collisions in the habitat such
that it is less suitable for the pioneer species but more suitable
for other successor species.
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

c) What kind of organism is dominant at each

level of succession?
Colonisation takes place in newly formed areas where no life
previously existed. For example, very few species can survive
in an environment of sand and stones since it stores little water
and has few available nutrients. The first colonizers are called
pioneer species.
They have special adaptations that enable them to survive
on dry and nutrient-poor soil. Pioneer species are hardly plants
which usually have dense root system to bind the sand
particles and hold water and humus. They have a short life
cycle. When they die, their remains add to the humus content
of the soil. Hence, the pioneer species modify the environment,
eventually creating conditions which are less favourable to
themselves. Instead, they establish conditions that are more
conductive to other species which are called successor species.
These plants grow bigger than the pioneer species, thus
reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches them and
gradually replacing them. Most of these plants have small
wind-dispersable seeds which are able to spread and grow
rapidly. The successor species also changes the structure and
quality of the soil, making it more conductive for longer plants
to grow.
These plants then become the new dominant species that
can grow faster and so they out compete the pioneers which
grow at a slower rate. As time passes, the dominant species in
turn modify the environment which allows larger trees to grow.
The larger trees out compete the shrubs, which are replaced by
forest-floor species which require lower light intensity. The
gradual process through which one community changes its
environment so that it is replaced by another community is
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

called succession. Succession is a very slow and continous

process which occurs in stages.

Figure 1: The process of succession

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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

d)How are plants adapted at each level of

succession?

1. Problem:-
– soft mud, strong water currents and tides.
Adaptation:-
– Avicennia has extensive branching root system and
Rhizophora has stilt roots to supports the plants and to
trap the soil particles. Bruguiera has buttress roots for
support.

2. Problem:-
– Water logged soil, less dissolve oxygen.
Adaptation:-
– Avicennia has aerial vertical breathing roots called
(pneumatophores) which grow vertically upwards. They
have (lenticels for gaseous exchange).
(pneumatophores) contain aerencyma tissue to
facilitate oxygen transport to the parts of the roots
submerged in water. Lenticels are also present on the
stilt root of Rhizophora, the knee, shape aerial roots of
Bruguiera and on the bark of stems of mangrove trees.

3. Problem:-
– Exposure to the sun and intense heat cause high
transpiration rate.
Adaptation:-
– The mangrove plants have xeromorphic features, thick
succulent leaves, leaves are covered by a thick layer of
cuticle and with sunken stomata to reduce the rate of
transpiration.
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

4. Problem:-
– High salt content in sea water cause this solution
surrounding the roots to be hypertonic.
Adaptation:-
– The cell sap of the root cells has a higher osmotic
pressure to absorb water from the surrounding solution.

5. Problem:-
– Removal of excess salts absorbed by the roots.
Adaptation:-
– The excess salt are secreted by hydathotes found on
the leaves. The crytallisle salt are washed off during
high tides or by rain water.

6. Problem:-
– Dispetsal
Adaptation:-
– The seed germinates while it is still attached to the
parent plant. The phenomenon is known as vivipary.
When the seedling is detached during low tide, it can
plant itself in the salt mud below. The seedling are
buoyant and can be carried by water current for several
weeks and dispersed to a new suitable area to avoid
overcrowding.
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

e)Explain the changes in the habitat caused by

the pioneer and succession species.

Figure2: a profile transect of a mangrove swamp showing three mangrove

zones and their dominant plants.
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BIOLOGY: Studying the process of colonisation and succession

f) What happens to an ecosystem after a long

period of time?