Glossary Details – French Guianan E-Flora Project

Glossary Details:

Title: Plant succession in the tropics. Photos by M. Tutlle and C. A. Gracie.

Description: Plant succession in the lowland tropics of South America after an area has been slashed-and-burned. Bottom: preparation of an agricultural field for growing cassava. Top: Species of Cecropia are often the most common plants in areas of secondary succession. Secondary succesion plants are also called pioneers.

Term:

Pioneer

Definition:

A species of plant that colonizes a deforested, barren, or disturbed area; e.g., many species of Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) are pioneer plants.