Final answer:
In evaluating threats, 'Composition' refers to the makeup and characteristics of a threat, including its impact on biodiversity, while 'Disposition' refers to how the threat is positioned, distributed, and its behavioral tendencies. These are important for predicting and managing environmental and ecological threats.
Step-by-step explanation:
When evaluating a threat, 'Composition' and 'Disposition' are among the 17 fundamental areas used to assess various factors. 'Composition' refers to the makeup of a threat in terms of its elements, structure, and characteristics, which can include the landscape and habitat make-up, effects on biodiversity, and relationships between species. It looks at the physical and biotic descriptors, how they interact, and the potential for dynamic changes in response to management strategies or invasive species. On the other hand, 'Disposition' often refers to the positioning, spread, and behavioral tendencies of a threat, which can entail the spatial dynamics of threats like human encroachment, changes in land tenure, and the distribution of threatened species.
Understanding composition and disposition is crucial in conservation planning and environmental assessment as they help in predicting and managing ecological threats effectively. For instance, the key biodiversity areas approach uses metrics of vulnerability and irreplaceability based on composition and disposition to identify critical habitats for conservation. This includes examining the vulnerability of areas based on species composition and the likelihood of disturbances altering the disposition of ecosystems.