Final answer:
Primary succession starts in uninhabited areas, while secondary succession occurs in previously inhabited areas that have been disturbed or affected by a major event like a fire or flood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between primary and secondary succession is that primary succession occurs in an area that was previously uninhabited, such as a newly formed volcanic island or an abandoned parking lot. It starts with the colonization of bare rock or soil by pioneer species, which break down the substrate and pave the way for other species to establish. On the other hand, secondary succession happens in an area that has been disturbed or underwent a major event like a fire or a flood, but still has remnants of the previous community. The process involves the reestablishment of a community from the remaining organisms or seeds.
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