What is secondary succession?

Secondary succession refers specifically to the natural process where an ecosystem recovers and regenerates following a disturbance that has already altered or removed some aspects of the existing biological community, but has left the soil and some life forms intact. This recovery process often occurs after events such as wildfires, storms, or human activities like farming.

After such disturbances, the area may still retain some of its previous biological and physical structures, allowing for a faster recovery than primary succession, which occurs on barren substrates where no soil exists. In secondary succession, pioneer species—often fast-growing plants and organisms—initially recolonize the area, which gradually leads to more diverse and complex communities over time. The existing soil and seed bank provide an advantage for quicker recolonization compared to primary succession.

The other choices do not accurately define secondary succession, focusing instead on different ecological processes or conditions that do not encapsulate the essence of how ecosystems rebound from disturbances.