Final answer:
The statement is true; borders between patches from natural disturbances change over time, impacting biodiversity and landscape patterns. Natural disturbances create ecotones and change fragment size and shape, leading to habitat fragmentation and a mix of species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that borders between patches that result from natural disturbances typically change over time is true.
Landscape change is a dynamic process influenced by various factors including natural disturbances, such as fire, wind, water flows, as well as human activities like land partitioning and development. Many ecological studies suggest that a certain degree of disturbance can actually enhance biodiversity within an ecosystem. This is due to the creation of ecotones, which are transition areas between different biomes and create a mix of different species and habitats.
Over time, these natural disturbances can alter the physical and biotic properties of a landscape, often leading to a decrease in the size of habitat fragments, increased isolation, and changes in their shape. The creation of new edges and habitat fragmentation leads to a higher edge-to-interior ratio, promoting edge species over others. Changes in the ecotones and habitats also involve time-lags before the full impact of landscape changes become apparent. Furthermore, landscapes can recover from disturbances, although this can be a prolonged process that may span over long periods.