Resilience

Definition

Resilience refers to the ability of an ecosystem or a community to recover from disturbances and maintain its essential functions and structures. It encompasses the capacity to absorb shocks, adapt to changes, and reorganize while undergoing transformation. This quality is crucial for sustaining ecosystems and ensuring long-term sustainability, highlighting the interconnectedness of ecological health and human well-being.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Resilience is not just about bouncing back; it also involves learning and adapting to prevent future disturbances from having similar impacts.
2. Healthy ecosystems with high biodiversity tend to be more resilient because they have multiple species that can fulfill essential roles during recovery.
3. Human activities, such as urbanization and pollution, can weaken the resilience of ecosystems by degrading habitats and reducing biodiversity.
4. Community resilience also plays a key role; social systems that foster cooperation and preparedness can enhance the overall resilience of both people and ecosystems.
5. Resilience can be measured through indicators such as recovery time after a disturbance and the maintenance of ecosystem functions in the face of change.

Review Questions

• How does biodiversity contribute to the resilience of an ecosystem?
  • Biodiversity enhances resilience by providing a variety of species that can perform different ecological roles. This diversity allows ecosystems to maintain functionality even when certain species are affected by disturbances. For example, if one species that contributes to pollination is lost, other species may take over that role, ensuring continued reproduction for plants and stability in food webs.
• Discuss the relationship between ecosystem services and resilience in sustainable development.
  • Ecosystem services are vital for human survival and well-being, providing resources like clean air, water, and food. Resilience ensures that these ecosystems can recover from disturbances and continue providing these services. In sustainable development, maintaining resilience means protecting these ecosystems so they can support human communities over time, especially in the face of environmental changes or disasters.
• Evaluate how urbanization impacts the resilience of both ecosystems and communities.
  • Urbanization often leads to habitat loss and fragmentation, reducing biodiversity and weakening ecosystem resilience. As natural areas are replaced with buildings and infrastructure, the ability of these ecosystems to recover from disturbances diminishes. Communities may also become less resilient due to increased vulnerability to natural disasters, reduced access to green spaces, and social disconnection among residents. Thus, urban planning must consider resilience strategies that preserve ecological functions while fostering community well-being.

Related terms

Biodiversity:

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, which contributes to resilience by providing a wider range of responses to environmental changes.

Ecosystem Services: The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, such as clean water, pollination, and climate regulation, which rely on resilient ecosystems to function effectively.

Sustainable Development:

A development approach that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, closely linked to the resilience of social and ecological systems.