AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -Examples of ecological disturbances include fires, landslides, flooding, windstorms and insect and pest outbreaks. Disturbances often come in the form of short-term or temporary changes to the landscape but can have very significant ecosystem impacts.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time. Gradually, these communities replace one another until a “climax community”-like a mature forest-is reached, or until a disturbance, like a fire, occurs. Ecological succession is a fundamental concept in ecology.

Detailed explanation-4: -Forests and other ecosystems can return to their predisturbance composition and struture through the presence of biological legacies, mobile links, and support areas. This shows a burned forest with regrowth coming from legacy roots underground or seed bank.