Question

Which of the following best describes the type of disturbance that has occurred in this ecosystem?

1) no disturbance: trees fall all the time in woodlands.
2) a small-scale disturbance: the falling tree created a gap in the tree canopy, altering light and other conditions.
3) a large-scale disturbance: the falling tree fundamentally altered the ecosystem, which must then recover over time.
4) a catastrophic disturbance: the falling tree destroyed the balance in the ecosystem and permanently altered it.

Answer 1

A tree falling in a woodland creates a gap in the canopy, leading to a small-scale disturbance and starting a process of succession to restore the affected area.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ecosystems are dynamic and constantly subject to various disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic, which can affect their structure and function. A single tree falling in a woodland does not typically cause a fundamental alteration of the ecosystem. Rather, it can be considered a small-scale disturbance as it creates a gap in the tree canopy, thereby altering light and other conditions in the immediate area. This event can lead to succession, where the gap is eventually filled by other plants and the forest ecosystem is restored over time.