Question

How many of the following features are true regarding primary succession?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 1

Answer 1

The correct option is A 2

Ecological succession is a steady, gradual change in the composition and structure of communities of an area with the changing environment. It is predictable, sequential and occurs in accordance with the changing physical environment.

Ecological succession is of two types :

• Primary succession - Succession where a newly formed area is colonised for the first time by a species or living organisms. Such areas would have never been previously inhabited i.e it is barren and lacks fertile soil. For example, newly cooled lava, newly created pond reservoir, etc.

• Secondary succession - Succession where natural communities develop in an area that was earlier occupied by living organisms that were somehow lost. It begins in areas where natural biotic communities have been destroyed such as in abandoned farm lands, deforested lands, lands that have been flooded, etc.

Secondary succession is a comparatively faster process than primary succession since some soil is already present in this ecosystem.