Ecological disturbance in the context of "Volcanic eruptions"

Play Trivia Questions online!

 or

Skip to study material about Ecological disturbance in the context of "Volcanic eruptions"
Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Ecological disturbance

In ecology, a disturbance is a change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, to alter the physical structure or arrangement of biotic and abiotic elements. A disturbance can also occur over a long period of time and can impact the biodiversity within an ecosystem. Ecological disturbances include fires, flooding, storms, insect outbreaks, trampling, human presence, earthquakes, plant diseases, infestations, volcanic eruptions, impact events, etc.

Not only invasive species can have a profound effect on an ecosystem, native species can also cause disturbance by their behavior. Disturbance forces can have profound immediate effects on ecosystems and can, accordingly, greatly alter the natural community’s population size or species richness. Because of these and the impacts on populations, disturbance determines the future shifts in dominance, various species successively becoming dominant as their life history characteristics, and associated life-forms, are exhibited over time.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier

Ecological disturbance in the context of Soil degradation

Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil. Retrogression is primarily due to soil erosion and corresponds to a phenomenon where succession reverts the land to its natural physical state. Degradation or pedolysis is an evolution, different from natural evolution, related to the local climate and vegetation. It is due to the replacement of primary plant communities (known as climax vegetation) by the secondary communities. This replacement modifies the humus composition and amount, and affects the formation of the soil. It is directly related to human activity. Soil degradation may also be viewed as any change or ecological disturbance to the soil perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.

According to the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn and the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, the quality of 33% of pastureland, 25% of arable land and 23% of forests has deteriorated globally over the last 30 years. 3.2 billion people are dependent on this land.

↑ Return to Menu
LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Soil degradation ← Soil retrogression and degradation
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Veld → Ecology → Ecosystem → Biotic component → Abiotic → Biodiversity → Fire → Flood → Storm → Insect → Outbreak → Trampling → Human impact on the environment → Earthquake → Plant disease → Infestation → Volcanic eruptions → Impact event → Invasive species → Native species → Biocoenosis →