Colonisation and Succession

Definition
*Colonisation: is the process whereby living organisms move into a newly formed area which is
devoid of life.
*Succession: is the gradual process by which one community changed its environment so that it is
replaced by another community.
Mangrove Swamp
The pioneer species of a mangrove swamp are the Sonneratia sp and Avicennia sp. The
presence of these species gradually changes the physical environment of the habitat. The extensive
root systems of these plants trap and collect sediments, including organic matters from decaying
plant parts. As time passes, the soil becomes more compact and firm. This condition favours the
growth of the Rhizophora sp. Gradually, the Rhizophora sp replaces the pioneer species. The seeds
of the Rhizophora sp show distinct viviparity. The prop root system of the Rhizophora sp traps silt
and mud, creating a firmer soil structure overtime.
The ground becomes higher. As a result, the soil is drier because it is less submerged by sea water.
The condition now becomes more suitable for another mangrove species, the Bruguiera sp, which
replaces the Rhizophora sp. The buttress root system of the Bruguiera sp forms loops which extend
from the soil to trap more silt and mud. As more sediment is deposited, the shore extends further to
the sea. The old shore is now further away from the sea and is like terrestrial ground. Over time,
terrestrial plants like the nipah palm and Pandanus sp begin to replace the Bruguiera sp. The gradual
transition and succession from a mangrove swamp to a terrestrial forest and eventually to a tropical
rainforest, which is a climax community, takes a long time. That is why we need to conserve and
preserve our mangrove forest.

Pond
Succession in a disused pond begins with the growth of pioneer species such as
phytoplankton, algae and submerged plants like the Hydrilla sp, Cabomba sp and Elodea sp. These
plants have special adaptive features which enable them to colonise the pond. Their fibrous roots
penetrate deep into the soil to absorb nutrients and bind sand particles together. Plenty of sunlight
penetrates through the clear water to allow photosynthesis to take place. When the pioneer species
die and decompose, more organic nutrients are released into the pond. The organic matter is
converted into humus at the pond base. The humus and soil which erode from the sides of the pond
are deposited on the base of the pond, making the pond shallower.
The condition becomes more unfavourable for submerged plants but more suitable for floating
plants such as duckweeds (Lemna sp), water hyacinths (Eichornia sp) and lotus plants (Nelumbium
sp). These plants float freely on the surface of the water. Since these plants receive sunlight directly
and can reproduce rapidly by vegetative propagation, they spread to cover a large area of the water
surface and prevent sunlight from reaching the submerged plants. As a result, the submerged plants
die because they cannot photosynthesise. The decomposed remains of the submerged plants add
more organic matter on the base of the pond. At the same time, more erosion occurs at the edge
which results in more sediments being deposited on the base of the pond. As a result, the pond
becomes more and more shallow which makes it unsuitable for the floating plants.
The floating plants are subsequently replaced by emergent (amphibious) plants which can live in
water as well as on land, for example, sedges and cattails. The rhizomes of these plants grow
horizontally across the habitat. Their extensive roots bind the soil particles together and penetrate
deeply to absorb more mineral salts. These plants spread rapidly and colonise the habitat, changing
it. The emergent plants grow from the edge of the pond towards the middle of the pond as the pond
becomes shallower. When these plants die, their decomposed remains add to the sediments on the
base of the pond. This further reduces the depth of the pond. The condition of the pond now
becomes more favourable for land plants like small herbaceous weeds, for example, Ageratum
conyzoides, Euphorbia hirta and Oldentandia dichotoma. As time passes, the land becomes drier and
the pond dries up. Land plants such as shrubs, bushes and woody plants become more numerous. A
primary forest emerges and eventually turns into a tropical rainforest which is also known as a
climax community.