Disturbance (ecology)

<p>In <a href="/facts/Ecology/YE8upuJU">ecology</a>, a disturbance is a change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an <a href="/facts/Ecosystem/kVE8mSmR">ecosystem</a>. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, to alter the physical structure or arrangement of <a href="/facts/Biotic_component/fzEc9c8k">biotic</a> and <a href="/facts/Abiotic/CA3Dwtta">abiotic</a> elements. A disturbance can also occur over a long period of time and can impact the <a href="/facts/Biodiversity/GruakEzs">biodiversity</a> within an ecosystem. Ecological disturbances include <a href="/facts/Fire/M6XwR3am">fires</a>, <a href="/facts/Flood/FDQjJeXW">flooding</a>, <a href="/facts/Storm/tgStaeS3">storms</a>, <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insect</a> <a href="/facts/Outbreak/CBLtnobw">outbreaks</a>, <a href="/facts/Trampling/2mu4Pd6K">trampling</a>, <a href="/facts/Human_impact_on_the_environment/vIAWqfPB">human presence</a>, <a href="/facts/Earthquake/NGjIzagw">earthquakes</a>, <a href="/facts/Plant_disease/h6DTufWF">plant diseases</a>, <a href="/facts/Infestation/s6QpTCLa">infestations</a>, <a href="/facts/Volcanic_eruptions/AwqpzdaG">volcanic eruptions</a>, <a href="/facts/Impact_event/fbWu9Q4p">impact events</a>, etc.
</p><p>Not only invasive species can have a profound effect on an ecosystem, but also naturally occurring species can cause disturbance by their behavior. Disturbance forces can have profound immediate effects on ecosystems and can, accordingly, greatly alter the <a href="/facts/Biocoenosis/A8YKcnhF">natural community</a>’s population size or species richness. Because of these and the impacts on populations, disturbance determines the future shifts in dominance, various species successively becoming dominant as their life history characteristics, and associated life-forms, are exhibited over time.
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Disturbance (ecology) open-in-new

Disturbance (ecology)