At intermediate levels of disturbance both colonists and competitively dominant species overlap, leading to the highest species diversity. Today we will test the intermediate disturbance hypothesis by determining whether areas with intermediate disturbance by gophers have the greatest plant species diversity. Study System Gophers are fossorial rodents whose underground activities significantly impact plants. Gophers can influence plants by directly consuming plant parts and also indirectly by changing the structure and drainage of the soil. Gophers have been hypothesized to be one of the largest biotic influences on any ecosystem in which they occur.
Gophers are solitary and somewhat territorial.
Homeranges are 100 m 2 for females to 200 m 2 for males. Curiosity C. Procedure 1. In pairs, randomly select a section of the field in which to work. You can do this by tossing the frisebee or hulahoop. Set up a 10m x 10 m plot.