What characterizes primary succession?

Primary succession is characterized by the process that occurs in an environment where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or on newly exposed glacial land. This type of succession begins on bare rock or newly formed land, where life must establish itself from scratch.

In primary succession, the first organisms to colonize the area, often called pioneer species (like lichens and mosses), help break down the rock into smaller particles, gradually leading to the formation of soil. This process is crucial because it allows for the eventual growth of more complex plants.

The other aspects of succession, such as recovery of ecological communities and regeneration of existing ecosystems, typically describe secondary succession, which occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed a community but left the soil intact. The creation of new soil, while part of the overall process of succession, is a result rather than a defining characteristic of primary succession itself. Thus, the essence of primary succession lies in its initiation on land that is entirely devoid of soil, highlighting the absence of foundational soil layers at the start of ecological development.