What Differentiates Primary Succession from Secondary Succession?
Answer – Primary succession occurs in new and lifeless environments where no soil or organisms exist, whereas secondary succession occurs in areas with existing soil and vegetation that have been previously disturbed or altered.
Explanation:
Ecological succession is the gradual and predictable process of how ecosystems change and develop over time. There are two types of ecological succession: primary succession and secondary succession.
Primary succession occurs in areas that are entirely devoid of life, such as bare rock or newly formed volcanic islands. Over time, pioneer species like lichens and mosses colonize this area, breaking down rocks and forming soil. As soil accumulates, more complex plants (grasses and shrubs) grow, leading to the establishment of a diverse ecosystem. Primary succession takes hundreds to thousands of years to become a mature ecosystem.
An example of primary succession would be a glacier retreat. When a glacier recedes, it leaves behind bare rock and debris. On these, lichens and mosses grow and convert the rocks into soil, thus making it fertile for diverse plants to grow.
Below is an image displaying primary succession:
Primary succession begins in barren areas such as rocks where primary colonizers gradually make the system fertile for diverse species. Image credit: Xbunnyraptorxy/ Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Secondary succession happens in areas that have been previously altered by events like forest fires, floods, or human activities such as deforestation. The soil is already present in these ecosystems, allowing for quicker recovery. In this type of succession, pioneer species quickly colonize the semi-barren area. As the years pass by, more complex and diverse vegetation starts thriving again. Secondary succession happens relatively faster since soil and vegetation are already present.
Abandoned agricultural land is an excellent example of secondary succession. When farmland is left uncultivated and abandoned, weeds and grasses rapidly recolonize the previously disturbed soil. Over time, shrubs and trees reclaim the land, leading to the development of a new ecological community.
The image below displays the events of secondary succession:
Secondary succession begins in an area where the soil is already formed from previously altered events such as forest fires. Image credit: Katelyn Murphy/ Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)
Both these types of succession shape and maintain diverse and stable ecosystems over time.
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