Why do moderate levels of disturbance result in an increase in community diversity?
A)Moderate levels of disturbance open up new habitats for less competitive species.
B)Dominant competitors increase in population at the exclusion of other species.
C)Environmental conditions are optimal after a disturbance,so native species thrive.
D)The resulting uniform habitat supports stability,which in turn supports diversity.
E)Less-competitive species evolve strategies to compete with the dominant species.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Moderate levels of disturbance can create new habitats for less competitive species that were previously excluded from the community, leading to an increase in diversity. This can be seen, for example, in a forest after a moderate fire: the burned areas may provide opportunities for sunlight to reach the forest floor, allowing new plant species to establish themselves and increasing overall community diversity. However, if disturbances are too severe or too frequent, they may have the opposite effect and decrease community diversity.

Why Do Moderate Levels of Disturbance Result in an Increase