Secondary succession occurs after which type of event?

• A. After volcanic eruption creating new land.
• B. In an untouched old-growth forest with no disturbance.
• C. After a disturbance such as fire or flood.
• D. In a stable water body.

Answer: (C)

Secondary succession happens after a disturbance that removes many organisms but leaves soil intact, so life can recolonize relatively quickly. Fires, floods, hurricanes, or human disturbances like logging create these conditions, letting seeds, roots, and microbes in the soil bounce back and gradually rebuild the community toward its former state.

A volcanic eruption creating new land is primary succession because it starts on bare rock with no soil. An untouched old-growth forest with no disturbance isn’t undergoing succession at the moment. A stable water body isn’t an example of terrestrial succession following a disturbance.