Final answer:
To compare ecosystems across a temporal scale, one must examine the change in biodiversity, interactions within an ecosystem, and organismal responses to environmental changes, backing it up with both experimental and holistic ecosystem studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing ecosystems across a temporal scale involves examining how ecosystems evolve and change over different periods. By analyzing data on bone flexibility, strength, and mass across environments or illustrating the interactions among organisms within a specific ecosystem, such as a tropical rainforest, desert, or coral reef, we can make hypotheses about their relatedness and response to environmental changes. When considering photosynthesis and respiration rates over seconds to decades in response to temperature change, we must consider acclimation and predict responses that reflect neutral effects on free energy availability. Furthermore, the long-term data, such as the number of distinct families over time, paints a picture of biodiversity trends on Earth. As for CO₂ levels, comparing the total increase to annual rise can provide insights into the timescale and the influence of human activities like the burning of fossil fuels. Ecologists advocate for integrating results from experimental systems with holistic ecosystem studies for a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem structure, function, and dynamics.