Difference Between Primary And Secondary Succession

Primary Succession and Secondary Succession are two types of Ecological Succession. Ecological Succession refers to the change in the structure and composition of a community with changes in the physical environment. The major difference between these two is that Primary Succession occurs in an area that was not colonized earlier whereas Secondary Succession occurs in an area that was colonized earlier.

This article first covers Primary and Secondary Succession individually and then the key distinctions between them through a table. But to study them properly, we have to first understand Ecological Succession.

Differences Between Primary and Secondary Succession

Features	Primary Succession	Secondary Succession
Previous Colonization	No prior colonization	Prior colonization
Soil Presence	Soil not initially present	Soil already present
Time Taken	Takes more time (about 1000 years or more)	Takes less time (50 to 200 years)
Progression Speed	Slow progression	Fast progression
Seral Stages	Involves many seral stages	Involves fewer seral stages
Propagule Presence	Propagule of the previous succession absent	Propagule of previous succession present
Initial Environment	Unfavorable initial environment	Favorable initial environment
Examples	Bare rock, Newly formed ponds, Newly cooled lava, etc.	Deforested land due to forest fires, etc.

Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession deals at the community level. It is defined as the change in the structure and composition of a community with a change in the physical environment. Types of Succession

There are two major types of succession

Primary Succession

It is a type of ecological succession that occurs in an area that was not colonized earlier. Soil is not present initially thus it takes more time as compared to Secondary Succession because it requires soil formation. The time to complete Primary Succession is about 1000 years or more. It is slow and involves many seral stages. In Primary Succession, No propagule of the previous succession is present and the initial environment is unfavorable. During primary succession, firstly the pioneer species ‘Lichens’ attach to rocks, and then a few small plants which can live without much soil appears. The decomposition of these plants helps in the formation of soil. Then larger plants begin to grow. Finally, the availability of enough soil and nutrients leads to the formation of a ‘Forest’ which is known as a climax community. Climax community means the end point of ecological succession. Examples include Bare rock, Newly formed ponds, Newly cooled lava, etc.

Secondary Succession

It is a type of succession that occurs in an area that was colonized earlier. Soil is already present thus it takes less time as compared to Primary Succession. The time to complete Secondary Succession ranges from 50 to 200 years. It is fast and involves fewer seral stages as compared to Primary Succession. In Secondary Succession, the propagule of the previous succession is present and the initial environment is favorable. The process of secondary succession is similar to primary succession but does not involve the formation of soil. Soil and nutrients are already present from previous successions. Thus, grasses can grow, followed by herbs, shrubs, trees, and eventually the climax community i.e.forest. Examples include deforested land due to forest fires.

Conclusion

Primary Succession and Secondary Succession are two types of Ecological Succession, with differences in previous colonization, soil presence, time taken, progression speed, seral stages, propagule presence, and initial environment. Primary Succession occurs in uncolonized areas which requires the formation of soil over a long period, while Secondary Succession takes place in previously colonized areas where soil and nutrients are already present. Studying these differences is important to understand ecosystem development and management.

FAQs on Differences Between Primary and Secondary Succession

What is Primary Succession?

Answer:

It is a type of succession that takes more time, around 1000 years or more, as it involves the formation of soil and progresses slowly through many seral stages.

How Does Primary Succession Differ From Secondary Succession?

Answer:

Unlike secondary succession, primary Succession occurs in areas that have not been previously colonized, it is a time taking process that lacks the presence of propagules from previous successions.

What Are Some Examples of Primary Succession?

Answer:

Examples of Primary Succession are bare rock surfaces, newly formed ponds, and newly cooled lava.