A graph showing the three different levels of fire intensity that disturbed three different forest communities in 1991. The forest service employees monitored the areas for the two decades after the fires and measured the recovery of species during secondary
succession. Forest I had a less intense fire while forest III had the most intense fire. Which hypothesis best describes the data seen
from the research study in the three forests?
A)
Fires will decrease biodiversity in an area permanently.
B)
Forests with a low level of disturbance will always have fewer species than
those with more intense disturbances.
C)
Forests with an intermediate level of disturbance can exhibit an increase in
biodiversity during secondary succession.
D)
Forests with intense fires have dominant species still intact that prevent
other species from becoming prominent in the community,