Primary succession starts in a place where there was no ecosystem before. It happens in an environment like an sea volcano that is creating new rock by erupting lava and cooling the new molten rock.

Soon, lichen comes to the new island by traveling by wind or water. One species shows up at first, lichen is a non vascular plant, which means it doesn't need oxygen to survive. Lichen is also highly acidic and breaks down the rock. The breaking down of rock creates soil for plants.

As the lichen die they leave behind organic matter that turns into soil. It builds up and eventually become a layer of soil where weeds and grasses can start to grow. Birds also fly over and drop off seeds that grow on the island. Which makes five new species inhabiting the island.

Eleven new animals come to the island consisting of: small herbivores such as mice and birds soon come to the island. Insects also come to the island in search of food.

Also simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow here, as they die they create more layers of nutrient rich soil for more plants, such as wildflowers, to grow on. And those plants die and bring more nutrients and layers to the soil so bigger plants can grow.