Final answer:
Ecological resilience is the ecosystem's ability to recover from disturbances like habitat destruction and overfishing. Keystone species, like wolves in Yellowstone, are critical for ecosystem diversity, and habitat restoration is vital for biodiversity recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ecological resilience refers to the capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances such as habitat destruction, overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species. Habitat destruction, including river damming and land development, has led to significant declines in various species, including freshwater clams and fish. Overfishing is another serious threat, often caused by the tragedy of the commons and unregulated fishing practices, which resulted in the collapse of the western Atlantic cod fishery.
Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem diversity. A classic example is the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park, which led to increased biodiversity. Removing keystone species, such as the bald eagle, can cause a collapse in ecological diversity, highlighting the importance of these species in the resilience and health of ecosystems.
Habitat restoration efforts, though sometimes challenging and long-term, hold promise for restoring biodiversity. These efforts can include ecological restoration to mimic natural disturbances, which are essential for the maintenance of certain ecosystems and the species that rely on them.