What is described as a biological legacy?

• A. The seeds stored in the soil seed bank
• B. New vegetation that grows after disturbance
• C. The stuff left after a disturbance
• D. The machinery used for site preparation

Answer: (C)

Biological legacy refers to the living and recently dead biological material that remains on a site after a disturbance and influences how the ecosystem recovers. This can include seeds and root fragments stored in the soil, surviving plants or sprouts, litter, and even soil-dwelling organisms. These remnants provide sources of regeneration, nutrients, and habitat that shape the trajectory of recovery and the eventual plant and animal community. That’s why the description “the stuff left after a disturbance” best captures the concept. The other options describe a specific component (seed bank), an ensuing outcome (new vegetation), or non-biological items (machinery), none of which fully define the idea of a biological legacy.