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Ecological Disturbance02:26

Ecological Disturbance

An ecological disturbance is a temporary disruption in the environment resulting from abiotic, biotic, or anthropogenic factors, causing a pronounced change in an ecosystem. The impact of an ecological disturbance, which can depend on its intensity, frequency, and spatial distribution, plays a significant role in shaping the species diversity within the ecosystem.Ecological disturbances can be caused by an event as small as the trampling of underbrush to an incident as wide-ranging as a forest...
The Soil Ecosystem02:23

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
Soil Microbial Ecology01:29

Soil Microbial Ecology

Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
What is an Ecosystem?01:17

What is an Ecosystem?

Overview
Habitat Fragmentation02:31

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
Ecological Succession02:17

Ecological Succession

Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Agricultural intensification and ecosystem properties.

P A Matson1, W J Parton, A G Power

  • 1Ecosystem Sciences Division, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 29, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Agricultural intensification boosts food production but alters ecosystems. Ecologically based management can enhance sustainable farming and reduce environmental harm.

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High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
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Published on: March 21, 2025

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High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
12:33

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

Published on: November 15, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Global agricultural expansion and intensification are key drivers of environmental change.
  • Modern agriculture, through high-yield varieties, fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides, has significantly increased food production.
  • These practices alter ecosystem dynamics, resource availability, and can lead to adverse environmental impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the environmental consequences of agricultural intensification.
  • To introduce ecologically based management as a sustainable alternative.
  • To advocate for strategies that balance food production with ecological health.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current agricultural practices and their environmental effects.
  • Analysis of biotic interactions and resource availability alterations.
  • Evaluation of ecologically based management strategies for sustainability.

Main Results:

  • Intensification practices significantly impact ecosystems and resource availability.
  • Negative environmental consequences can be local, regional, and global.
  • Ecologically based management offers a pathway to sustainable agriculture.

Conclusions:

  • Sustainable agricultural production requires integrating ecological principles.
  • Ecologically based management can mitigate the off-site environmental consequences of farming.
  • Balancing intensification with ecological considerations is crucial for long-term food security and environmental health.