Melting snow causes a pond to develop in a existing basin with fertile soil. Phytoplankton, tiny plant life, begin to occupy the pond. Grasses and shrubs begin to grow at the pond's edge, and frogs come to lay their eggs in the pond. What type of succession does this passage describe? Which species is the pioneer species?

Type of succession: Secondary succession

Pioneer species: Phytoplankton.

Explanation:

The succession term refers to colonization and subsequent changes.

Colonization has been defined as the sequence of events that conduce to the establishment of individuals, populations, species, or bigger groups in areas where they were absent before.

Succession refers to changes produced in the composition and structure of communities after a perturbation. There are different grades of successions according to the perturbation intensity.

Primary succession: The perturbation is so intense that it eliminates all the life forms in the area. It is the sequence of species appearance in an exposed area that has not been influenced by any other species or community before. In these cases, the rock gets exposed but it can not be colonized directly. The new area needs to suffer erosion and different chemical and physical processes that fragment, degrade and dissolve the rock to make colonization possible. Secondary succession: The perturbation has partially or completely removed all vegetable life forms, but the soil is still good, fertile, has spores and seeds.

En each case, succession begins with a few invasive species called pioneers, which are the first to colonize the area.

Melting snow causes a pond, which is first colonized by phytoplankton, which is the pioneer species. After this firs colonization, grasses and shrubs begin to grow, followed by frogs that lay their eggs in the pond. This temporary aquatic medium is an example of secondary succession because the pond was formed in fertile soil, not in an exposed rock or infertile soil.

Type of succession Secondary succession

Pioneer species Phytoplankton.