BIOL 1070 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, Adaptive Management, Ecosystem Services
Document Summary
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis (connell 1978): idh predicts that the highest species richness will occur at an intermediate level of intensity or frequency of natural disturbance. Large, infrequent, disturbances are often catastrophic and include disturbances such as floods, forest fire, hurricanes and volcanic activity. A woodlot may be transformed by a severe fire into an open field dominated by herbs and grasses. A less severe fire may transform a maple woodlot into one that is dominated by ash and popular seedlings. Natural disturbances are very important in shaping landscapes and influencing ecosystem processes. Ecosystem function: the exchange of energy and nutrients among plants, animals and their environment. Ecosystem services: refers to the processes within ecosystems that provide fundamental resources such as water, clean air or even the decomposition of waste products.
