Final answer:
The correctly matched catastrophic weather event and its effect on an ecosystem is (a), where a thunderstorm's lightning can start forest fires, leading to ecological changes and succession.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question focuses on identifying the correct pairing of a catastrophic weather event and its effects on an ecosystem. Among the options provided:
- A thunderstorm's lightning can indeed start forest fires, impacting the ecosystem as such events can lead to a process called succession, where the affected area gradually recovers and regenerates over time. This fact aligns with the knowledge that ecosystems can dramatically change due to natural forces such as lightning-sparked fires.
- It is known that hurricanes can cause significant destruction to coastal ecosystems, including seabird populations and vegetation, as they can generate powerful storm surges that move seawater onto land and high winds that can uproot plants, even in deep water.
- Tornadoes typically occur over land and are less likely to move large volumes of seawater; instead, they tend to cause damage with high winds and can result in fallen trees and other structural damage.
- Floods can indeed form new lakes and alter landforms dramatically, but they are not primarily associated with high winds damaging plants. Instead, the primary impact of a flood would be water damage and inundation of land.
Considering these points, option (a), which states that 'A thunderstorm's lightning can start forest fires', is the correct match for the effects of a catastrophic weather event on an ecosystem, as it can lead to forest fires that alter the landscape and set a succession stages.