What type of succession occurs in an area devoid of soil?

Primary succession occurs in an area devoid of soil because it describes the process by which a biological community develops on previously uninhabited and lifeless terrain. This typically starts on bare rock surfaces, such as those created by volcanic eruptions or glacial retreats. The key feature of primary succession is that it begins in an environment where no soil exists, necessitating the gradual formation of soil over time as pioneer species, like lichens and mosses, colonize the area. As these organisms die and decompose, they contribute organic matter, leading to the development of soil that can eventually support more complex plant life.

In contrast, secondary succession takes place in areas where a disturbance has cleared an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, such as after a forest fire or agriculture. Climatic succession does not refer to the establishment of a biological community but rather to changes in the community as a response to changing climatic conditions over time. Evolutionary succession is not a widely accepted term in ecological succession and does not specifically refer to the ecological processes involved. Thus, primary succession is the correct choice for the question regarding the type of succession that occurs in an area devoid of soil.