Colonisation and Succession in a mangrove

Colonisation ccurs when the pioneer species occupy an area or newly O formed land previously unoccupied by living organisms.hey T have specialised characteristics to adapt to the area.

Succesion
Continual series of changes in the structure and species composition of a community from initial colonisation of an area by pioneer species until a stable complex community is reached. an be divided into 2 C Primary succession Secondary succession

Primary succession
Occurs when pioneer species occupy an area previously unoccupied by living organisms such as a new land by deposition of mud.

Secondary succession
Occurs when an existing biotic communityis disrupted and a new communitydevelops at the area.he disruption may cause by T flooding,human activities. ccurs more rapidly O than primarysuccesion. May take place if the soil isalready present and there are survivingspecies.

What is mangrove?
Tropical tree or shrub growing in shore-mud with many tangled roots aboveground (Pocket Oxford Dictionary) angrove plants are found along M themuddy coastal areas and estuaries intropical and subtropical regions. hy there? w The regions are sheltered from direct strongwinds, strong waves and water current. Silt and clay particles carried by river water willbe deposited as mud at the river mouth. When mud bank sufficiently thick and the newlyformed land is exposed to the air at low tide, the COLONISATION by pioneer species begins.he first T pioneer plant to grow on soft exposedsaline mud bank along the coastal facing thesea are halophythes (Avicennia spp) the river estuaries, the In dominant pioneer species is Sonneratia spp

One characteristics helping thedevelopment of colonisationdevelopment of colonisation

The Avicennia spp have roots that growsvertically upwards (pneumatophores).he roots contain aerenchyma tissue =facilitate T oxygen transport to partssubmerged in water.he roots trap silt t particles, fallen leavesand tree branches. s the ground level is raised, the area iscovered less frequently by A high tides.rovided shade to soil, more nutrientsaround the P area.ioneer species gradually disappears andreplaced by the P successors.

Colonisation around mangroveareaarea