Why is biodiversity important for ecosystem resilience?

Higher biodiversity plays a crucial role in enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability, which contributes to greater resilience in the face of environmental changes. When an ecosystem has a wide variety of species, it benefits from a range of functions and services that those species provide. This variety allows ecosystems to be more adaptable to disturbances, such as climate change, natural disasters, or human impacts.

For instance, if one species is affected by a disease or environmental change, other species can take on its role within the ecosystem, which helps maintain the overall functionality of the system. The presence of diverse species also fosters complex interactions, such as predator-prey relationships and symbiotic partnerships, which further stabilize the ecosystem.

In contrast, ecosystems with low biodiversity can be more vulnerable to disruptions because they rely heavily on a limited number of species. A decline in any one of those key species could lead to larger systemic issues, potentially resulting in ecosystem collapse. Consequently, the higher the biodiversity, the more resilient the ecosystem is to change, allowing it to sustain its functions and services over time.