How does biodiversity affect the stability of an ecosystem?
Greater biodiversity generally makes an ecosystem more stable. A variety of species perform different roles, and if one species declines or conditions change, others may help maintain ecosystem functions and support recovery.
What is a possible effect of land development reducing the amount of shelter available in an ecosystem?
With less shelter, organisms may have fewer places to hide, nest, or reproduce. They may face more predation and competition, and some may leave or decline in number, reducing the ecosystem’s carrying capacity.
How does an ecosystem transition from primary succession to secondary succession?
Primary succession begins on bare rock or another surface without soil. As pioneer organisms establish and help create soil, the ecosystem develops. If a later disturbance removes the organisms but leaves the soil, recovery can occur through secondary succession.
How do limiting factors determine the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
Limiting factors such as food, water, space, and shelter restrict how large a population can grow. Together, they determine the carrying capacity—the largest population an ecosystem can support over time.
What will happen to an ecosystem that is experiencing a prolonged drought?
Water becomes scarce, limiting plant growth and sometimes causing plants to die. Animals may then lose food and habitat, so populations can decline or move away. The ecosystem’s carrying capacity may decrease, and drought can also increase the risk of fires.
Why is it important for scientists who study ecosystems to study more than the organisms that live there?
Scientists also need to study nonliving factors such as water, sunlight, soil, and temperature. These abiotic conditions affect organisms’ survival, distribution, and interactions, and therefore help determine how the whole ecosystem functions.
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