Population Changes
Change is inevitable in nature.
Ecosystems have to cope with sudden changes like hurricanes and long term changes like ice ages.
Healthy Ecosystems will withstand the stress caused by change. Populations will recover or adapt to a new climate.
Population Changes
Stressed ecosystems do not handle change well.
They are already fragile or out of balance. They react with population spikes (boom) and population crashes (bust)
Population spike (boom)- Increase in population happens quickly.
Population crash (bust)- Decrease in population happens quickly
Sometimes a stressed ecosystem will not recover from change.
Population Effects Ecosystems
If a change affects one population in an ecosystem, the change will be felt throughout the system over time.
When one population of organisms increases or decreases, other populations will be affected because all living things are interrelated.
