Fig. 4

High levels of physical or biological disturbance (a) are reflected in low species diversity (H′) with only a few pioneer or disturbance tolerant species, as in the case of barren ground; minor disturbance frequency and strength results in well adapted mature communities, however dominated by only a few strong competitors providing a comparatively homogeneous habitat, e.g. dense M. integrifolia or L. trabeculata beds with relatively low diversity (b); whereas intermediate frequencies and levels of physical or biological disturbance allow a “patchwork” of different successional stages and thus create higher diversity (c), e.g. L. trabeculata patches intercepting barren ground