Final answer:
Primary succession occurs in a place that had no ecosystem before. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Primary succession occurs in previously uninhabited areas, and pioneering species are crucial in starting ecological development in such areas.
This type of ecological succession happens on new lands—areas where life has not yet existed, such as after a volcanic eruption that forms new land, or when glaciers recede, exposing new rock that has not yet been colonized. Without existing soil, pioneer species play a crucial role in beginning the process of succession by breaking down the substrate into soil where other species can take root and grow, eventually leading to a fully developed ecosystem.
Hence, D is the correct option.