Ecosystems have numerous features, some are characterized
as relatively stable, others are highly unstable.
Hence it is important to define the feature (state variable)
in focus when discussing stability. These variables
can be divided into structural and functional
features. Structural features include habitat diversity,
floral and fauna1 diversity, biomass, age and size span,
spatial distribution, etc. Functional features include
among others energy dynamics such as net and gross
production, production to respiration ratio, water use
efficiency, energy flow in trophic structure, element
cycling, and degree of organism interaction, etc.