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In primary succession, newly exposed or newly formed rock is colonized by living things for the first time.

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In secondary succession, an area previously occupied by living things is disturbed—disrupted—then recolonized following the disturbance.

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The first species to populate an area during succession.

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An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. A climax community is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference.

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1. Bare rock, no organisms - ex. Glacier leaves behind bare rock; Volcano produces bare rock with no organisms.

2. Pioneer species begins breaking down rock. Pioneer species lichens, grows on rock. Lichens secrete acids that begin breaking rock into small particles, which mix with lichen remains to begin making soil.

3. Decomposition creates a layer of topsoil.

4. Grasses grow and displace the pioneer species. As the soils develop grasses and small herbaceous plants start to grow.

5. More nutrients in soil allows for shrub growth; nutrient availability increases, allowing for more root action. Deeper soils hold more water. Small shrubs colonize these better soils.

6. Increase in soil depth allows for growth of trees. Eventually trees establish, leading to the development of a climax community on mature soils.

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An example of secondary succession is the 2019-2020 Australian wildfires. This event began with uncontrolled fires in June 2019. Throughout the summer, hundreds of fires burnt, mainly in the southeast of the country. The major fires, which peaked during December–January, have since been contained and/or extinguished. An estimated one billion animals have been killed and some endangered species may be driven to extinction. At its peak, air quality dropped to hazardous levels. In regards to ecological succession, wildfires will burn most vegetation and kill those animals unable to flee the area. The nutrients, however, are returned to the ground in the form of ash.  Before the fire, the vegetation was dominated by tall trees with access to the major plant energy resource: sunlight. Their height gave them access to sunlight while also shading the ground and other low-lying species. After the fire, though, these trees are no longer dominant. The first plants to grow back are usually annual plants followed within a few years by quickly growing and spreading grasses and other pioneer species. Eventually, the forest will reach its equilibrium point where species composition is no longer changing and resembles the community before the fire, the climax community.

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1. Established climax community that exists following the upheaval of a pre-existing ecosystem.

2. An environmental disturbance, such as a bushfire or earthquake, destroys the pre-existing climax community.

3. Biota removed but the soil remains. Grasses and herbaceous plants are the first to grow back as the soil is already present (no pioneer species required).

4. Fast growing trees will develop to their fullest, while shade tolerant trees will develop in the understory.

5. Eventually the fast-growing trees may be overtaken by larger, slower-growing trees as the ecosystem reverts to its prior state.