Disturbance

TEPLEY, A, PARITSIS, J, TT VEBLEN

The Encyclopedia of Sustainability, Vol. 5: Ecosystem Management and Sustainability

Berkshire

Lugar: Gt Barrington, MA; Año: 2012; p. 98 - 102

Disturbances are relatively discrete events in time that substantially influence ecosystem composition, structure, and function. Natural disturbances (such as hurricanes, avalanches, fi res, and floods) play important roles in shaping landscapes and the biota that evolved with them. With increasing human population growth and resource demand, the direct and indirect effects of human-caused disturbances are posing an increasingly complex challenge for balancing ecosystem and societal needs.