Secondary Succession
Ecological succession that occurs after a disturbance that removes existing vegetation but leaves soil intact—after fire, logging, or abandoned agriculture. Faster than primary succession because soil and seed banks remain.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"... years for temperate rainforest (Pacific Northwest), 50-100 years for grassland, 1,000+ years for boreal forest (slow growth at high latitudes). Secondary Succession: Recovery After Disturbance Secondary succession occurs when soil remains but vegetation is removed: Forest fire, logging, agriculture abandonment, ..."
"...tive stable states - operate with identical precision in organizations. These aren't metaphors. 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 i..."
Biological Context
Secondary succession benefits from the biological legacy of previous communities: soil nutrients, seed banks, root systems, and nearby seed sources. An abandoned farm field returns to forest much faster than bare rock develops soil. Most observed succession is secondary succession.
Business Application
Secondary succession in business: entering markets after disruption removes incumbents but leaves infrastructure—customers, suppliers, distribution channels. Faster than building new markets; the ecosystem already exists.