What happens next after a glacier recedes and exposes bare rock?

D. Lichen will colonize the bare rock

Explanation:

When a glacier recedes and exposes the bare rock, it is likely that the lichen will colonize that rock.

Lichens have a wide distribution and inhabit the most different regions. Usually, lichens are pioneer organisms in a place, as they survive in places of great ecological stress (locals of extreme cold, for example). They can live in places such as rock surfaces, leaves, soil, tree trunks, alpine peaks, etc.

The lichen's ability to live in places of high ecological stress is due to its high drying capacity. When a lichen dries out, photosynthesis is interrupted and it does not suffer from high lighting, water scarcity or high temperatures. Because of this drop in photosynthesis, lichens have a low growth rate.

there really is life in the deepest part