What Is Primary Succession?

Primary succession is the biological and ecological process of eradicating all forms of life due to a massive natural phenomenon. It is an event that takes generations to complete: The previous life forms in the affected area are destroyed and later replaced by a new substrate that is adaptable to less-austere conditions, thriving on soil and minerals.

• Primary succession ultimately enhances the environment.

Causes

• The onset of primary ecological succession can be caused by two types of phenomena: volcano eruption or glaciations. When lava flows on barren land, pioneer plant life such as lichens, moss, algae and fungus combined with abiotic elements such as wind and water take over the soil and generate a new habitat. Over the course of evolution, these pioneer plants are conquered and replaced with plants that survive on mineral residue. These plants consist of grasses, shrubs, terrestrial vegetation and hardwood trees which come to form jungles, rainforests, and grasslands over time.

Function

• Ecological succession is nature's method of rejuvenating the earth's natural resources, in terms of land and mineral content, as well as forming habitats. However, the occurrence of primary succession is not likely in the foreseeable future, since most land already contains a functioning ecosystem.

Effects

• Primary succession often results in a pristine habitat filled with rich vegetation, similar to that of the rainforests surrounding previously active volcanoes. For example, islands formed by volcano eruptions, as well as valleys that came from glaciations, are quite rich in mineral content, which in turn can be a good source of natural resources as well as highly conducive to agriculture. These areas, rich with vegetation, provide an ideal environment for the rejuvenation of natural resources.

Significance

• The phenomenon of primary succession is essential in maintaining the balance of nature. While the catalysts of primary succession are considered to be dreadful disasters, they are also the same factors that result in the rejuvenation of barren land. The vast jungles and plant life brought about by primary succession have taken their own roles in maintaining biodiversity by serving the needs of other life forms, both animal and human.

Benefits

• Primary succession has aided mankind throughout the course of history. With the vast vegetation offered by the pristine forests and grasslands, man was able to develop agriculture, and soon after, societies and civilizations. Vegetation has also enabled the enhancement of skills and the invention of tools and innovations, thereby affording a better quality of life.