Pioneer species
In
ecology a
pioneer species is a
plant species which colonises previously uncolonised land, usually leading to
succession. Since uncolonised land usually has thin, poor quality soils with few nutrients pioneer species are typically very hardy plants, with adaptions such as long roots, root nodes containing
nitrogen fixing bacteria, and leaves which reduce
transpiration.
Pioneer species are often grasses, such as marram grass which grows on sand dunes.