Final answer:
A freshly glaciated area will have low species richness due to the initially harsh conditions and lack of developed ecosystems, but diversity may increase over time through ecological succession.
Step-by-step explanation:
An area recently vacated by glaciers will have low species richness. Due to the harsh conditions and lack of a developed ecosystem right after glaciation, the biodiversity is initially quite low. However, as the area undergoes ecological succession, diversity can increase over time. This change is affected by various factors, including habitat fragmentation, climate change, and human activities. Smaller habitat fragments typically support lower species richness, and newly vacated glacial areas are unlikely to have a variety of habitats initially. As global warming continues to affect climates and reduce snowfall and sea ice, species are forced to adapt, migrate, or face extinction.