What are characteristics of early successional species?

Early successional plants tend to have high rates of photosynthesis and respiration, high rates of resource uptake, and high light compensation points, whereas late successional plants often have opposite characteristics (Bazzaz 1979).

Are early successional species R or K?

In general, communities in early succession will be dominated by fast-growing, well-dispersed species (opportunist, fugitive, or r-selected life-histories). As succession proceeds, these species will tend to be replaced by more competitive (k-selected) species.

How do you maintain early successional habitat?

Early successional habitats are open habitats generally covered in annual plants, grasses, and forb species. These areas are maintained through management activities such as strip disking, strip spraying, and prescribed burning, and/or mechanical clearing.

What the Heck is “early successional habitat”?

Early successional habitat is habitat with vigorously growing grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees , which provide excellent food and cover for wildlife but need disturbance to be maintained. Examples of early successional habitats include weedy areas, grasslands, old fields or pastures, shrub thickets (e.g. dogwood or alder), and young forest.

What is early successional habitat?

Early successional habitats are areas with vegetation ranging from persistent shrubs or seedling to sapling-sized trees, collectively referred to as thickets. These habitats provide critical habitat for a wide variety of wildlife that can provide education and enjoyment for both forest landowners and their families.

What are the stages of succession?

Succession is a scientific term describing the long-term progression of biological communities that occurs in a given area. Ecological succession breaks down into three fundamental phases: primary and secondary succession, and a climax state.

What are some examples of primary succession?

A good example of a primary succession is the evading of a land entirely made of harden lava after a volcanic eruption. In the beginning the land will be barren, soon some small plant species will colonize the land (pioneer species), followed by small shrubs, less woody plants and finally trees.