h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This article is very well written, however, I would like to argue one point: you claim that ecosystems are fragile and "...minor..." environmental changes will cause damage. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) suggests that slight changes (im assuming you mean deviation from a baseline value) in environmental conditions will actually increase biodiversity (you can choose whatever measure you desire here). This has been tested on rocky shores (although I cannot remember the name off the top of my head, I am drunk though), and been found to hold true. However, a colleague of mine tested this on intertidal, estuarine (quite important in my opinion) mudflats and found no such relationship. Anyway, I enjpiyed your article; it explained some ecological concepts in a clear and straightforward manner (another important skill, again in my opinion)