What is resilience in ecological terms?

Resilience in ecological terms specifically refers to the ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance, such as natural disasters, human activities, or other stressors. This concept encompasses how well an ecosystem can absorb shocks and persist in its essential functions and structures. A resilient ecosystem may exhibit quick recovery times, re-establishing its former state or adapting to new conditions, thereby maintaining its overall health and functionality.

In contrast, while sustaining high productivity and having a diversity of species present are important attributes of ecosystems, they do not directly capture the core idea of resilience. High productivity refers more to the amount of biomass an ecosystem can produce under optimal conditions, and species diversity contributes to ecosystem stability but isn't synonymous with the ability to recover from disturbances. Similarly, the stability of genetic traits is related to evolutionary processes and the adaptability of species but does not directly address how ecosystems cope with and bounce back from disturbances.