Which condition is likely to result in communities having the greatest diversity of species,according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?
A) infrequent disturbances of any kind
B) somewhat frequent, moderate disturbances
C) very frequent, large disturbances
D) somewhat frequent, large disturbances

Question

Which condition is likely to result in communities having the greatest diversity of species,according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis? 
A) infrequent disturbances of any kind 
B) somewhat frequent, moderate disturbances 
C) very frequent, large disturbances 
D) somewhat frequent, large disturbances

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis suggests that communities with moderate levels of disturbance can have the greatest diversity of species. This is because moderate disturbances can create gaps in the ecosystem that allow new species to colonize while also preventing dominant species from completely taking over. Infrequent disturbances may allow dominant species to become too established, while very frequent or large disturbances may completely disrupt the ecosystem and prevent diversity from developing.

Which Condition Is Likely to Result in Communities Having the Greatest