AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Primary succession is ecological succession that begins in essentially lifeless areas, such as regions in which there is no soil or where the soil is incapable of sustaining life (because of recent lava flows, newly formed sand dunes, or rocks left from a retreating glacier).

Detailed explanation-2: -One of the most striking aspects of a newly formed lava flow is its barren and sterile nature. The process of colonization of such flows by plants and animals is called primary succession, and it is also found on other newly formed surfaces such as glacial deposits, large landslides, and river deposits.

Detailed explanation-3: -Primary succession occurs when new land is formed or bare rock is exposed, providing a habitat that can be colonized for the first time. For example, primary succession may take place following the eruption of volcanoes, such as those on the Big Island of Hawaii. As lava flows into the ocean, new rock is formed.

Detailed explanation-4: -An example of primary succession is the establishment of plant or animal communities in an area where no soil initially exists, such as bare rocks formed from a lava flow. Other examples are the colonization of a barren area following a severe landslide or recently exposed land from retreating glaciers.

Detailed explanation-5: -Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experienced a disturbance, such as a lava flow.