Question

Compare rates of succession: primary succession such as on new lava flow vs secondary succession in a forest that recently burned.

A. Primary succession is faster than secondary succession

B. Secondary succession is faster than primary succession

C. Primary and secondary succession usually proceed at the same rate because they both followed a large disturbance.

D. Succession rates would depend on the number of early arriving facilitator species.

Answer 1

Secondary succession is usually faster than a primary succession. Its mainly because the elements that are required for life to begin is already present in case of secondary succesion. Unlike a primary succesion, where for example in case of new lava flow, it will require a lot of time. First it needs to settle, then cool down, the molten lava takes a long time to get converted to soil which is capable of growing plants such as bryophytes, pterydophytes and life in this case will begin from a single celled organism to a multicellular organisms. It is only after that large species will start to grow and settle in that area. But in the case of a burnt down forest, which is a secondary succesion,  the soil which is already present, though may become infertile can still be capable of growing plants. Soon animals will start to migrate back to the area . Thus succession rates would certainly depend on the number of early arriving species which incase of a secondary succesion is faster than in primary succesion.

Thus to conclude my answer, sentence number 1 & 3 are false. 2 & 4 are true.