I. Abiotic disturbance Fire- many systems, e.g., grasslands, pine forests, have evolved with a certain fire regime. Fire is a natural occurence that many species have adapted to. The effects of fire are dependent on spatial and temporal scales. A forest that has adapted to a 10 year fire cycle will react much differently when fires are suppressed and occur only every 100 years. Much depends on intensity, temperature, and spatial scale.
Humans are a major factor in fire ecology.
Wind- can create gaps in wooded areas that open areas for colonization. Sunlight can penetrate canopy. May affect one or few trees or thousands of hectares. Hurricanes- a major cause of island and coastal disturbance. Effects from wind, flooding, and disruption of breeding.