Ecosystem diversity contributes to:

Study for the NMAT Biology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Ecosystem diversity plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability and resilience of ecological communities. This diversity encompasses not only the variety of species within ecosystems but also the different habitats and ecological processes that sustain them. A diverse ecosystem tends to possess a wider array of genetic, species, and functional diversity, which collectively contribute to its ability to withstand environmental changes, disturbances, and various ecological pressures.

When an ecosystem is diverse, it can utilize resources more efficiently and adapt to changing conditions, such as climate change, diseases, and invasive species. For example, different species may fulfill various ecological roles, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and habitat formation. This functional redundancy means that if one species is lost, others can potentially take over its ecological role, thus maintaining the ecosystem's overall functions and services.

In contrast, options that suggest negative aspects, such as increased resource competition, higher extinction rates, and reduced species interactions, do not align with the key contributions of ecosystem diversity. While competition can occur, a diverse ecosystem generally balances interactions among species in a way that promotes coexistence rather than detrimental competition. Higher extinction rates are often a consequence of low diversity rather than a benefit, as low diversity means fewer species are available to adapt to changes. Lastly, reduced

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