Question

Which one of the following statements is correct for secondary succession?

• A. It occurs on a deforested site
• B. It occurs in areas never inhabited by living organisms before
• C. It is comparatively a slower process than primary succession
• D. It begins on a newly cooled lava

Answer 1

The correct option is A It occurs on a deforested site

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. Hence option b and d are incorrect.
  
• 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. Hence option a is correct.

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