The role of pioneer vegetations in accelerating the process of natural succession

Osman, Normaniza and Barakbah, S.S. and Ali, F.H. (2009) The role of pioneer vegetations in accelerating the process of natural succession. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5 (1). pp. 7-15. ISSN 1553345X, DOI https://doi.org/10.3844/ajes.2009.7.15.

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Official URL: http://www.thescipub.com/pdf/10.3844/ajessp.2009.7...

Abstract

Even though bioengineering technique has been regarded as one way to alleviate landslide and erosion problems, this process of revegetation is severely time consuming as the process of plant succession of the slopes may take decades or even hundreds of years. Approach: However, the process can be tremendously hastened by planting the right suitable pioneer species on the slopes. In this project, a natural succession experiment was conducted to determine the role of a potential slope colonizer, L. leucocephala, as a good pioneer in two years of observation. Results: In terms of the plant community, L. leucocephala had tremendously accelerated the plant succession of the slope. Within two years, 46 species comprising various species of grasses, shrubs and small trees colonized in the mixed culture treatment. The plant diversity increased drastically, about five (12 months) and eight fold (24 months) of its initial (0 month) diversity against 2.5 (12 months) and three fold (24 months) in the monoculture treatment. Related to this species-richness, LAI and biomass of the plant community was also enhanced in the mix-culture system. Conclusion: The results indicate that the species studied exhibits an outstanding pioneering characteristic by enhancing natural succession and the revegetation process which will be in turn, resulting in a more stable ecosystem. © 2009 Science Publications.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords: Mixed culture, Monoculture, Natural succession, Pioneer, Species diversity, bioengineering, biomass, leaf area index, legume, pioneer species, revegetation, species richness, succession, Poaceae
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Miss Malisa Diana
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2013 01:52
Last Modified: 24 Jan 2020 03:36
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/6252

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