Succession

Question 1

Primary Succession

Answer 1

Primary succession happens when a new patch of land is created or exposed for the first time. This can happen, for example, when lava cools and creates new rocks, or when a glacier retreats and exposes rocks without any soil. Primary sucession begins with lichens and moss (pioneer species) to create soil, eventually reaches climax community.

Question 2

Succession

Answer 2

Succession is a series of progressive changes in the composition of an ecological community over time.

Question 3

Secondary Succession

Answer 3

Secondary succession occurs when the severity of disturbance is insufficient to remove all the existing vegetation and soil from a site. Many different kinds of disturbances, such as fire, flooding, windstorms, and human activities (e.g., logging of forests) can initiate secondary succession. Begins with soil, much quicker than primary succession.