Week 9: Ecosystems are both strong and fragile

The strength of an ecosystem, generally, comes from the many and varied elements that compose the system. It is the strength of a web. The fragility comes from the fact that each strand relies on its neighbors/co-workers. If one strand is out of balance, it puts a strain on the rest of the system. Sometimes that strain can be born until homeostasis returns. Other times, the structure must go through radical change, which can mean the destruction of many of its elements, as well as the possiblity of new ones.