ome researchers have hypothesized that the feedback loop pictured below influences the carbon dynamics of Arctic ecosystems as f
ollows: Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels cause the climate to warm, thawing permafrost. Nitrogen mineralization is then stimulated as thawed permafrost decomposes. The resulting increase in soil ammonium then stimulates primary production, which pulls CO2 from the air. What kind of feedback loop is described
A negative feedback loop causes homeostasis. A negative feedback loop tends to stabilize the ecosystem, creating some balance. Positive feedback loops, on the other hand, enhance or amplify changes, moving the system away from its equilibrium state, and making it unstable. With negative feedback loops, changes are dampened or buffered. This causes the system to maintain some equilibrium or remain in a stable state. All homeostatic systems, such as thermoregulation (which regulates the body temperature) and blood sugar regulation, operate on negative feedback loops.
