Abstract:The primary succession on the 50 year old volcanic island of Surtsey, Iceland, has been intensively
studied. Initial soil development and other belowground processes are important drivers of primary
succession but frequently overseen. A Leymus arenarius and Honckenya peploides dominated plant
community has formed a relatively stable successional sere on the island, where external inputs of nutrients
remain low. These plants have had a stable <10% aboveground surface cover during the past 20 years, but
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