Primary Succession
Ecological succession that begins on bare substrate where no soil exists—newly exposed rock, volcanic islands, or retreating glaciers. Starts from scratch with no legacy of previous life.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 3 chapters:
"Understanding succession is understanding how ecosystems mature from bare ground to complex communities. Primary Succession: Life from Barren Rock Primary succession begins on lifeless substrate: Volcanic rock, glacial till, sand dunes. No soil exists. No seeds."
"Seed bank enables slower regeneration (months to years). No surviving tissue or seeds means no regeneration - succession starts from zero (primary succession, covered in Chapter 8). Hormonal Triggers: Apical Dominance and Regeneration When you cut a tree trunk, why do dormant buds activate? Why didn'..."
"They're deep structural principles.* Primary and Secondary Succession Ecologists distinguish between two types of succession. Primary succession develops on substrates never previously occupied by life - volcanic islands, glacial moraines, lava flows."
Biological Context
Primary succession is slow because soil must be created. Pioneer species like lichens and mosses begin breaking down rock, accumulating organic matter over decades to centuries. Eventually soil supports increasingly complex communities. Primary succession can take thousands of years to reach climax.
Business Application
Primary succession in business: building entirely new markets with no existing infrastructure—new technologies requiring new distribution, new regulations, new customer behaviors. Slower and riskier than entering established markets but potentially more rewarding.