Question

An ecosystem with more biodiversity is more likely to survive disturbances and climate changes. Why is this so?

Answer 1

An ecosystem with more biodiversity is indeed more likely to survive disturbances and climate changes. This is because biodiversity provides a variety of species that contribute to the stability and resilience of an ecosystem.

1. Redundancy: In a biodiverse ecosystem, there are multiple species that perform similar functions. If a disturbance or climate change negatively affects one species, others with similar roles can step in and maintain the ecosystem's functioning. For example, if a certain plant species is unable to survive in a changing climate, other plants may be able to fill the ecological niche and provide similar services like food and habitat for other organisms.

2. Ecological Interactions: Biodiversity promotes complex ecological interactions, such as predation, competition, and mutualism. These interactions create a web of relationships that increase ecosystem stability. For instance, predators keep herbivore populations in check, preventing overgrazing and ensuring a healthy balance within the ecosystem.

3. Resilience and Adaptation: Biodiverse ecosystems have a greater pool of genetic diversity. This genetic diversity allows species to adapt to changing conditions over time. In the face of disturbances or climate changes, species with genetic variations that enable them to survive and reproduce in new conditions are more likely to persist. As a result, biodiversity enhances the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

4. Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity provides various ecosystem services that support human well-being. For example, diverse plant communities can improve soil fertility and nutrient cycling, enhancing agricultural productivity. Biodiversity also contributes to clean water, air purification, and climate regulation.

In summary, a high level of biodiversity increases the stability, resilience, and adaptability of an ecosystem. It ensures redundancy, promotes complex ecological interactions, enables species to adapt to changing conditions, and provides important ecosystem services. By understanding and valuing biodiversity, we can better protect and preserve ecosystems for the benefit of both nature and human society.

Answer 2

An ecosystem with more biodiversity is better equipped to withstand disturbances due to a variety of ecological benefits, such as increased productivity and stability, efficient resource utilization, and a broader range of ecosystem services, which are crucial for the ecosystem's resilience and human welfare.

Step-by-step explanation:

An ecosystem with more biodiversity is more capable of surviving disturbances and climate changes because of the numerous benefits that a wide array of species provides. These benefits include increased ecosystem productivity, stability, and resilience to perturbations. Greater biodiversity also implies a higher probability of having species that are particularly well-suited to the existing environmental conditions, which is known as the sampling-competition effect. This effect, along with the complementarity in resource use and facilitation effects between different species, leads to more efficient energy flow and nutrient recycling within the ecosystem.

Furthermore, ecosystems with high biodiversity, such as tropical regions, often present a complexity that allows for more ecological niches and promotes speciation. The interconnectedness of species means that the loss of biodiversity can lead to a cascade of impacts throughout the ecosystem, affecting other species and ecosystem services crucial to human welfare, such as agriculture, pollination, and medicinal resources.

Lastly, biodiversity's contribution to ecosystem services is of paramount importance. Biodiverse ecosystems are likely to be more productive and stable, provide a buffer against environmental change, and sustain a greater number of ecosystem functions and services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling.