Refer to the figure. According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis represented in the figure, species diversity in a community will be highest when the community
A) is left undisturbed.
B) experiences high stress.
C) is moderately disturbed.
D) has little or no competition.
E) has a high likelihood of extinctions.

Question

Refer to the figure.  According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis represented in the figure, species diversity in a community will be highest when the community
A) is left undisturbed. 
B) experiences high stress. 
C) is moderately disturbed. 
D) has little or no competition. 
E) has a high likelihood of extinctions.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, species diversity is highest when the community experiences moderate disturbance. This is because moderate disturbance creates a patchy environment with different habitats and resources, allowing a variety of species to coexist. When disturbance is too low, dominant species can outcompete others, leading to lower diversity. On the other hand, when disturbance is too high, only a few highly adapted species can survive, also leading to lower diversity.

Refer to the Figure