According to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis,____

Question

According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis,____.  
A) species richness becomes greatest in between disturbances of moderate intensity or frequency
B) a disturbance is necessary during succession in order to stabilize the community
C) community succession is highly predictable
D) competition and other species interactions are the most important factors in shaping community structure
E) a community reverts to a climax state after a disturbance

Accepted Answer

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis suggests that species richness is greatest in ecosystems that experience disturbances of moderate intensity or frequency. This is because frequent, low-intensity disturbances prevent dominant species from monopolizing resources, while infrequent, high-intensity disturbances can completely disrupt the ecosystem and allow only a few highly adapted species to thrive.