Final answer:
Short-term changes in an ecosystem include fluctuations in weather and life cycles of organisms, while long-term changes involve significant alterations such as the melting of glaciers and rising sea levels, which may lead to the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two specific changes that might affect an ecosystem include the following:
- Short-term changes such as changes in seasonal patterns, unseasonal rainfall, and shifts in the life cycles of insects and animals can temporarily influence the balance and functioning of an ecosystem. These alterations may shift the timing of events within the ecosystem, leading to a mismatch between species and the availability of their food sources or changes in predator-prey dynamics.
- Long-term changes, on the other hand, can significantly alter an ecosystem. For instance, the melting of glaciers and a rise in water levels may lead to the submersion of islands close to sea level, permanently destroying the local ecosystem. Another long-term change includes alterations in plant growth cycles due to deforestation or changes in climate, which can lead to loss of biodiversity and changes in the structure of the ecosystem.
Both types of changes, whether short-term or long-term, have the potential to disrupt the intricate balance of ecosystems and can lead to consequences for biodiversity and the services ecosystems provide.