Plant establishment: Difference between revisions
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== Plant Establishment == | == Plant Establishment == | ||
When plants first colonize an area, they are limited by a number of factors including environmental conditions, seed availability or a lack of facilitating species. However, this phase is arguably the most critical part of ecosystem development. A seed has to be dispersed to an area and land on a suitable microsite while also at a time with favorable conditions for germination and early growth. This is remedied as time goes on because succession will continue, making the abiotic factors and species interactions, like competition, more favorable for colonizing plants. [2] | When plants first colonize an area, they are limited by a number of factors including environmental conditions, seed availability or a lack of facilitating species. However, this phase is arguably the most critical part of ecosystem development. A seed has to be dispersed to an area and land on a suitable microsite while also at a time with favorable conditions for germination and early growth. This is remedied as time goes on because succession will continue, making the abiotic factors and species interactions, like competition, more favorable for colonizing plants. The more plants that become established in an area, the higher the quality of the soil becomes, which leads to a higher success rate of plant establishment. When the soil quality raises to a certain point, smaller seeds are able to establish themselves, adding competition to area, which makes the area even more suitable for other types of plants. The diversity will create many more microsites in which plants with contrasting resource requirements can establish themselves and coexist. [2] This increase in biodiversity is beneficial to the overall health of the ecosystem, and the area in general. | ||
[[File:Established_Plant.jpg|frame|Multiple coffee plants established in pots [3]]] | [[File:Established_Plant.jpg|frame|Multiple coffee plants established in pots [3]]] | ||
Revision as of 14:21, 3 May 2018
Definitions
To define a plant establishment, it must first be known what it is to establish something. Establish is defined as, "to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis". [1] Based on that, a plant establishment can be defined as, "the act of a plant taking root within a soil where it can flourish".
Plant Establishment
When plants first colonize an area, they are limited by a number of factors including environmental conditions, seed availability or a lack of facilitating species. However, this phase is arguably the most critical part of ecosystem development. A seed has to be dispersed to an area and land on a suitable microsite while also at a time with favorable conditions for germination and early growth. This is remedied as time goes on because succession will continue, making the abiotic factors and species interactions, like competition, more favorable for colonizing plants. The more plants that become established in an area, the higher the quality of the soil becomes, which leads to a higher success rate of plant establishment. When the soil quality raises to a certain point, smaller seeds are able to establish themselves, adding competition to area, which makes the area even more suitable for other types of plants. The diversity will create many more microsites in which plants with contrasting resource requirements can establish themselves and coexist. [2] This increase in biodiversity is beneficial to the overall health of the ecosystem, and the area in general.
References
[1] "establish". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 2 May. 2018. <Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/establish>.
[2] Marteinsdottir, Bryndis, et al. "Multiple mechanisms of early plant community assembly with stochasticity driving the process." Ecology, vol. 99, no. 1, 2018, p. 91+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A532385328/GPS?u=avlr&sid=GPS&xid=5153d942. Accessed 2 May 2018.
[3] “Plants, Types, Growing Areas.” Plants, Types, Growing Areas - The Coffee Plant - Coffea Arabica - Coffea Caneph / Dethlefsen & Balk - Tea, Coffee, Confiserie, Accessories, www.dethlefsen-balk.de/ENU/10889/Coffee_Plant.html.