Ecosystems are open thermodynamic systems characterized
by input and output of energy and matter.
Stability may be defined as the ability of a system to
remain near an equilibrium point or to return to it after
a disturbance (Orians, 1975; Harrison, 1979). Hence,
ecosystem stability is characterized by a dynamic equilibrium
(steady state) achieved through interactions
among functional groups of organisms and the physical
environment. For example, the nutrient cycling results
from the functional synchrony of autotrophs, heterotrophs,
the atmosphere, and the soil compartment.