Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has yet to form, such as after a volcanic eruption. It begins with pioneer species like lichens and mosses that help create soil over time. Secondary succession, however, happens in areas where an ecosystem has been disturbed but soil and organisms still exist, such as after a forest fire. This process is generally faster than primary succession as it retains some of the previous ecosystem’s biological diversity and can quickly lead to the restoration of habitat, benefiting from existing seed banks.