Imagine you are studying a forest community that is subject to unusually intense fires and hurricanes approximately every 100 years, which is more frequently than in most environments. What would you expect of the species diversity in this community?
A)The plant and animal species in the area change after each fire, therefore every 100 years the species composition of the area is entirely different.
B)The species present are able to tolerate fires, and the species composition never changes.
C)The species present after the fire are different than those present 90 years after the fire.
D)The recovery after the fire takes longer for each subsequent fire that occurs in the area.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The community is subject to unusually intense fires and hurricanes approximately every 100 years. This means that after each fire, the species present are different than those present 90 years after the fire. The interval between disturbances is too frequent for species to fully recover and reach their pre-disturbance state. Therefore, the community is likely to have lower species diversity than in other environments. Choice A is incorrect because it is unlikely that the species composition of the area is entirely different after every fire. Choice B is incorrect because even if the species are able to tolerate fires, intense fires every 100 years may still significantly impact the species present. Choice D is incorrect because there is no indication in the question that recovery takes longer with subsequent fires.

Imagine You Are Studying a Forest Community That Is Subject