AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In many cases, a community arising in a disturbed area goes through a series of shifts in composition, often over the course of many years. This series of changes is called ecological succession.

Detailed explanation-2: -Disturbances often come in the form of short-term or temporary changes to the landscape but can have very significant ecosystem impacts. These events often act quickly but with great impact and thereby are able to promote changes to the physical structure of the system.

Detailed explanation-3: -Disturbances act to disrupt stable ecosystems and clear species’ habitat. As a result, disturbances lead to species movement into the newly cleared area (secondary succession). Once an area is cleared there is a progressive increase in species richness and competition between species takes place.

Detailed explanation-4: -Disturbance intensity and the pace of recovery The change a terrestrial ecosystem experiences as it recovers from a disturbance depends on the intensity and magnitude of the disturbance. The major mechanisms of recovery in such ecosystems are primary and secondary succession.