stable ecosystem
Self-sustaining natural community
A stable ecosystem is an ecological community that maintains its structure and function over time, resisting or recovering from disturbances.
The term implies balance among species, resources, and environmental conditions: The marsh had been a stable ecosystem for centuries before the development.
Ecologists debate whether stability means constancy or resilience—whether the system stays the same or bounces back from disruption.
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- natural balanceEnvironment's self-sustaining stability
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- circle of lifeContinuous birth-death-renewal cycle
forest · wetland · food web · food chain · predator · apex predator · prey · keystone species · nutrient cycle · carbon sink · resilience · thriving · interconnected · habitat · watershed · old growth · coral reef · decomposers
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