Which term refers to ecological succession that takes place after a disturbance that does not destroy the soil?

• A. Climax Community
• B. Old-Growth Forest
• C. Secondary Succession
• D. Invasive Species

Answer: (C)

When a disturbance occurs but the soil remains intact, the ecosystem rebounds through secondary succession. The key idea is that the soil and many living things in and on it survive the disturbance, so regrowth happens from existing roots, stored seeds in the soil, and resident microorganisms rather than starting from bare rock. Because these clues are already present, recovery tends to be faster and the emerging community builds up from those remnants, progressing through stages to a relatively stable set of species.

This differs from other terms because they describe different aspects. A climax concept refers to the stable endpoint a succession might reach, not the process itself. An old-growth forest describes a forest stand with long-lived trees and complex structure, not how it regrows after disturbance. Invasive species are organisms that spread and disrupt ecosystems, not a type of successional process. The important distinction here is that the soil remains, so regrowth is driven by existing seed sources and roots—that’s secondary succession.