Environmental Science U1 Module 1 Ecosystem Stability

Ecosystem Stability

Ecosystem Stability 1
Ecosystem Stability 2
Genetic Diversity 3
Introduced Species 4

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Environmental Science U1 Module 1 Ecosystem Stability
Ecosystem resistance refers to the ability of an ecosystem to resist change after a
disturbance.
Ecosystem resilience refers to the ability of an ecosystem to retain its function and
organizational structure after a disturbance.
Local ecological stability refers to the tendency of a biological community to return to its
original state after a small or local disturbance.
Global ecological stability refers to the tendency of a biological community to return to its
original state after a major disturbance
The greater the calculated value of species diversity, the more stable an ecosystem is
assumed to be.

Ecosystem Stability
Ecosystem stability relates to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand significant
changes over time and repair any damage after sudden changes.
As succession continues, species diversity increases and feeding relationships become
more complex. Eventually a climax community develops which is in equilibrium with its
environment and undergoes little further change.
Complex ecosystems with high species diversity tend to be more stable because they
have more alternative links between different species exist and in the case where one
link is broken it can be replaced by another link.
Several species may also be able to carry out the same function. e.g. if a disease
severely changes the density of one species then another can take over and perform its
function.
- Ecosystem stability is likely to increase as species diversity increases because:
Ecosystems are interconnected by feeding relationships.
The more complex and interconnected a community is, the more stable and resilient it
is expected to be in the event of a disturbance.
If many different species occupy each trophic level, some can fill in if others are
stressed or eliminated from the community.
This therefore makes the community resistant to change so that it can recover
relatively easily from disruptions.
As the diversity within an ecosystem increases, its stability tends to increase because
alternative links are formed between different species, thus the different species may
be able to carry out the same functions.

- Ecosystem stability is likely to decrease if species diversity decreases because:

In diverse and highly specialized ecosystems there are keystone species.
Removal of keystone species can result in the elimination of many other associated
species because the feeding relationships would be disrupted and species may die or
migrate.
Loss of species makes an ecosystem less reliable and less stable.
Species composition in an ecosystem is the result of natural selection and evolution.
overtime each species would have adapted to its own niche which enables it to
reproduce and maintain its population.
Each species has a niche in its environment which is important for keeping the
ecosystem in balance, therefore any loss of species may affect the existence of other
species and ultimately affect ecosystem balance.
The niche of the lost species is no longer possible, although another species may take
its place, its impossible for it to replace all of the functions performed by the previous
species.

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Environmental Science U1 Module 1 Ecosystem Stability

Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity is the total number of different genetic characteristics in the genetic
makeup of a species.
- Genetic diversity within species is important when considering the conservation of
biodiversity. Some reasons for this are:
It contributes to the species ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions over
time through natural selection and evolution.
It is important in the species ability to colonize new areas and occupy new ecological
niches.
Genetic diversity is thought to contribute to a species ability to reproduce and produce
robust offspring.

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Environmental Science U1 Module 1 Ecosystem Stability

Introduced Species
Non native species may be introduce into new habitats deliberately or accidentally, they
can either be helpful or have disastrous consequences for native species and the natural
environment.
Non-native species may be introduced deliberately as a means of population control
against non-native species that may have been introduced accidentally and are
disrupting the ecosystem. The non-native species introduced deliberately can prey on
the other non-native species. However problems may arise if the deliberate species out
numbers the accidental species and is therefore forced to feed on other organisms in the
ecosystem, causing further disruption.

Benefits of Introducing Non-Native Species

Non-native species usually have high reproductive rates and short generation times. This
helps their numbers to increase rapidly.
In the case of plants, sometimes they introduce growth-inhibiting substances into the
environment that prevent or restrict the growth of other species.
Non-native species are usually generalists and can survive better than other species
under conditions in which the other species may succumb.
They usually have high genetic variability which makes them very adaptable to different
environments.
They usually have high dispersal rates and use a variety of dispersal mechanisms which
allow them to disperse over wide areas with varying environmental conditions.

Negative Impacts of Introducing Non-Native Species

Promotion of migration of native species as completion for resources increases,
Some non-native species may be predators of native species leading to increased death
and loss of native species.
They often outcompete native species for resources
Increased interactions and competition among and between species could disrupt
feeding relationships which negatively impacts ecosystem stability
They could be vectors of diseases which can be transferred to native species that are
unable to survive or not adapted towards said diseases.
They can also cause degradation of the environment due to different foraging and
behavioral habits.

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