Question

Climax stage is achieved quickly in secondary succession as compared to primary succession. Why?

Answer 1

The rate of succession is much faster in secondary succession as the substratum (soil) is already present as compared to primary succession where the process starts from a bare area (rock).

Answer 2

1. Ecological succession begins in a place where living organisms are absent. This may occur in areas where life has never existed, such as bare rock or barren land, or in areas where a community once existed but was destroyed by a disturbance. The first is called primary succession, and the second is called secondary succession.
2. In primary succession, the formation of a new biotic community is very slow because soil is not initially available, and soil must develop before many organisms can establish themselves. Depending on climatic conditions, natural processes may take several hundred years to produce fertile soil on a bare surface.
3. Secondary succession begins in areas where an existing natural biotic community has been destroyed. Since soil or sediment is already present, succession proceeds much faster than in primary succession. Hence, the climax stage is achieved more quickly in secondary succession than in primary succession.