Consider pioneer species and some of the characteristics that are likely to make them successful. Read the following statements about their potential characteristics and determine which one is unlikely.
They are often photosynthetic, because there is no energy source available other than light energy.
They have root nodes with nitrogen-fixing bacteria so they can obtain nutrients, because the environment has poor quality soil.
They have long life cycles with slower growth and longer life spans.
They usually reproduce asexually to increase reproductive success, rather than investing energy into risky sexual reproduction.
The statement that is unlikely is:
They have long life cycles with slower growth and longer life spans.
Pioneer species typically have shorter life cycles, faster growth rates, and shorter life spans in order to quickly establish themselves in harsh or disturbed environments.