The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis and the Diversity of Bacteria on the Human Body

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis predicts that the highest diversity will occur at levels of moderate disturbance. We measured the species diversity, abundance, and species diversity of bacteria on the human body in relation to disturbance by washing. Bacteria were sampled from three surfaces on the human body with varying disturbances, counted, and classified into morphospecies. The site with intermediate disturbance had the highest species richness and species diversity. While these results match the prediction of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, diversity of bacteria may have also been influenced by physical and behavioral