Question

Which statement describes how pioneer species and climax communities are different?

Answer 1

Answer:

d) Pioneer species have large numbers of offspring, and climax communities contain species that have small numbers of offspring.

Explanation:

A pioneer species is the first species to inhabit a bare area of land. Many times, this bare land is covered with rocks, so the plants that first inhabit the area are important because their roots break up the rocky land to access nutrients beneath them. Pioneer species usually have the following characteristics:

Tolerable of harsh living conditions

Seedy plants that germinate easily

Small seeds so they can be dispersed by the wind easily

Have a short life cycle

Reproduce asexually

Once these pioneer plant species take root, they are important for the growth of the ecosystem because they provide homes for smaller animals and insects. They also trap moisture in the soil so other plants can grow in the new ecosystem as well. One of the most important factors in the development of a pioneer community is the amount of wind an area receives because the wind is responsible for carrying the seeds of different plants to these barren locations.