Changes in soil chemical properties and plant species composition during primary succession on an oceanic island

Questions What is the influence of time and environmental factors such as climate topography on soil chemical properties composition vascular plants during primary succession lava flows an oceanic island? How compositional change characterized which successional stages can be distinguished? Location La Palma, Canary Islands. Methods We sampled in 72 plots a long-term chronosequence 10 ranging age between 40 over 20,000 years semi-arid lowlands Palma Island. Soil were analyzed by general least-squares models (GLS), while canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), cluster multiresponse permutation procedures (MRPP) applied to investigate change. Results characteristics plant species strongly affected substrate but also climatic topographic factors. Values most increased with flow age, pH decreased. organic matter, phosphorus, exchangeable calcium ammonium revealed positive correlation mean annual precipitation. Lava was always important independent factor determining assembly followed Four their indicator species, life strategies status could defined. Alien did not alter trajectories. Conclusion Time, simultaneously affect flows. The windward–leeward gradient Island influences colonization development coastal areas. Favorable conditions (moisture) speed up succession. Compositional changes suggest convergence During entire process, dominant shrubs are endemics, highlighting importance evolutionary adaptation volcanic disturbances.