When a community is disturbed to the point that most or all of its species are eliminated, a process called ________ occurs in which the area undergoes a series of changes in species composition as newer communities replace older ones.
A) rejuvenation
B) mass extinction
C) ecological succession
D) patch dynamics

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ecological succession is the process that occurs when a disturbance results in the loss of most or all of the species in a community. Over time, new species will move in and replace the old ones, leading to changes in the community's species composition. Rejuvenation refers to the restoration of an ecosystem to a previous state, while mass extinction is the loss of a large percentage of species across the entire Earth. Patch dynamics refers to the spatial and temporal changes in species distribution within a landscape, but not necessarily the result of a disturbance that eliminates all species.

When a Community Is Disturbed to the Point That Most