**7. A new look at pioneer communities?**

The predator first-hypothesis is valuable by pointing to the fact that many predators are present rather immediately, before any visible primary production. Their food requirements can probably be fulfilled by aerial transport of invertebrates. But animal life on a young moraine is more complicated than that. The super-pioneers among animals are microflorafeeding groups belonging to the decomposer food chain, and some of these may serve as food for predators. Furthermore, certain moss-eating microarthropods, beetles and Chironomidae are present after few years, being part of chlorophyll-based food chains.

Fig. 11. Newly hatched adult and larva of the moss-eating beetle *Simplocaria metallica.* Photo: Marte Lilleeng

Fig. 12. Pioneer moss patch after four years. Midtdalsbreen glacier snout, south Norway. Photo: Sigmund Hågvar

The predator first-hypothesis is valuable by pointing to the fact that many predators are present rather immediately, before any visible primary production. Their food requirements can probably be fulfilled by aerial transport of invertebrates. But animal life on a young moraine is more complicated than that. The super-pioneers among animals are microflorafeeding groups belonging to the decomposer food chain, and some of these may serve as food for predators. Furthermore, certain moss-eating microarthropods, beetles and Chironomidae are present after few years, being part of chlorophyll-based food chains.

Fig. 11. Newly hatched adult and larva of the moss-eating beetle *Simplocaria metallica.* Photo:

Fig. 12. Pioneer moss patch after four years. Midtdalsbreen glacier snout, south Norway.

**7. A new look at pioneer communities?** 

Marte Lilleeng

Photo: Sigmund Hågvar

Maybe also cyanobacteria with chlorophyll are present very early. Some of the typical pioneer beetles are omnivorous and may eat inblown seeds. Finally, who eats who is still an open question, as well as whether pioneer ground is a sink or a reproduction ground. The ecology of pioneer communities may be more complicated than earlier thought

Fig. 13. This rim of pioneer mosses along a large stone after four years is due to inblown moss fragments which have aggregated along the stone. Midtdalsbreen glacier snout, south Norway. Photo: Sigmund Hågvar.
