Disturbance (Ecological)
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A discrete event that disrupts ecosystem structure, changing resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment. Includes fire, storms, floods, and human activities. The biological precursor to Schumpeter's 'creative destruction.'
Biological Context
Disturbance removes established organisms, releasing resources and creating colonization opportunities. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis (Connell, 1979) proposes that diversity peaks at moderate disturbance levels—too little allows competitive exclusion (monopolies), too much prevents recovery. Fire, floods, storms, and human activities are common disturbance agents. The disturbance regime (frequency, intensity, extent) shapes community composition more powerfully than species traits alone.