Which type of succession would follow a forest fire?

Following a forest fire, the type of succession that occurs is secondary succession. This process happens in areas where a disturbance, such as a fire, has cleared out an existing ecosystem but has left the soil and some organic matter intact.

During secondary succession, the recovery of the ecosystem is facilitated by the remaining seeds, roots, and other organisms that can repopulate the area relatively quickly compared to primary succession, which occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat.

After a fire, the soil may still contain nutrients and a seed bank that can help new plants to grow soon after the disturbance. Consequently, the succession process usually begins with pioneer species, such as grasses and certain plants, that can thrive in the altered environment, eventually leading to the reestablishment of a mature community similar to what existed before the fire. This makes secondary succession a quicker process due to the presence of an existing nutrient base.