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Problem 5 - Entrance Test

According to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH), which level of disturbance would result in the highest species diversity?

A. Very high disturbance with frequent catastrophic eventsB. No disturbance at allC. An intermediate level of disturbance that prevents competitive exclusionD. Only disturbance occurring at the end of the growing season

Correct: C

The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, proposed by Connell (1978), states that species diversity is maximized at intermediate levels of disturbance. At low disturbance, competitive exclusion by dominant species reduces diversity. At very high disturbance, only r-selected species survive, and diversity decreases. An intermediate disturbance prevents any single species from dominating while allowing both r-selected and K-selected species to persist, thereby maximizing diversity.