Ecological collapse

What is it?

Ecological collapse is where an ecosystem suffers a drastic, sometimes permanent, reduction of a carrying capacity for all organisms. It often leads to mass extinction.

Ecosystems are a foundation for human life. They have a wide range of functions, usually referred to as environmental services. We rely on those services for air, water, food, shelter, etc. The ecosystem will presumably be impacted by human uses but recover relatively quickly. Although it might endure minimal unfavourable effects. But after too much, it reaches a tipping point or an abrupt and radical disruption. The results are the significant deterioration of the soil quality, freshwater sources and biodiversity.

What are the causes?

Even if there are no single causes for his problem, some factors include :

- Asteroids crashes

- Immense volcanic eruptions

- Rapid climate change

How much do we know?

We know that ecosystems are complex vital forces of living organisms in their nonliving environment. They are linked together with flows of energy and nutrients. Since the mid-1950s, some components that ensured the habitation of the planet have been degrading with a pace of 15. In 2009, a group of international specialists identified nine interconnected planetary boundaries that support the stability of the global ecosystem that permits civilization to progress.

Can a collapsed ecosystem recover?

The reverse could be likely, but the feedback that caused the collapse can lead to a difficult recovery. Removing the stress of the ecological collapse might be difficult but not unattainable.