What is secondary succession?

Secondary succession refers to the ecological process that occurs after a disturbance in an area where soil and some organisms still exist. This type of succession allows for the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed but not completely devastated. Examples of disturbances can include events like forest fires, floods, or human activities such as farming that temporarily disrupt existing vegetation. During secondary succession, the existing soil provides a foundation for new plant growth, and organisms that survived the disturbance can quickly repopulate the area, leading to a relatively rapid recovery compared to primary succession, which occurs in lifeless areas where soil is initially absent.

This understanding emphasizes that not all ecosystems are completely upended in secondary succession, as the soil and a portion of the community remain intact to facilitate the process of recovery and reestablishment of ecological balance.