Primary SUCCESSIONPrimary succession is an "ecological succession" that occurs in an environment which is inhospitable or barren. It follows an event in the environment that has left the land void of vegetation. Primary is the initial step to rebuilding an environment. Primary succession creates the conditions that will allow the environment to continue to rebuild. This occurs in areas where healthy soil has not yet been created. Usually prokaryotes and profits are the first to inhabit the area. Lichens and mosses are the second life to inhabit the area. Soil begins to be created when the rocks begin to weather and the early life forms remains begin to decompose. Once a decent soil top layer is created, grasses shrubs and small trees replace mosses. Eventually the population of plant life increases and the ecosystem gradually gets richer. For an ecosystem to develop in a healthy manner there must be a strong base of plants. (24)
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Secondary SUCCESSIONSecondary succession follows an event in which a majority of the ecosystem has been destroyed but soil has been left relatively intact. Areas that have experienced secondary succession usually resemble what they looked like before an event like a fire. (26) After the even, like a fire, seeds are carried on the furs of animals or blown in from other areas, The first organisms to re-enter an ecosystem are small level five plants like mosses, lichens, grasses, or shrubs. Like primary succession the number of plant species gradually increases and the ecosystem will eventually become suitable for animal populations. Secondary succession takes less time to occur than primary succession but still a substantial amount of time is needed. (25)
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