Why is biodiversity important for ecosystem resilience?

• A. It ensures all species survive.
• B. It provides more functional roles and redundancy, allowing ecosystems to adapt to disturbances and recover more quickly.
• C. It has no effect on resilience.
• D. It reduces energy loss.

Answer: (B)

Biodiversity supports ecosystem resilience by providing a mix of functions and backup options. When many species fill different roles, ecosystems can keep essential processes going even after a disturbance. If one species declines, others can take over its function, so nutrient cycling, pollination, pest control, and other processes continue. This redundancy, along with the variety of responses to stress (such as some species tolerating drought better than others), helps the system absorb shocks and recover more quickly. For example, a diverse plant community includes species with different tolerances, so cover and soil health are maintained after a drought, while a variety of pollinators means reproduction can proceed even if some pollinator species are reduced. The idea that biodiversity guarantees every species survives isn’t accurate, and biodiversity does affect resilience. Biodiversity doesn’t directly reduce energy loss; energy transfer between levels is governed by ecological efficiency, not simply by the number of species present.