Ecological Value: Does Diversity Make Communities More Resilient?
Resilient ecosystems are characterized by:
Constancy (Lack of fluctuation)
Inertia (Resistance to perturbation)
Renewal (Ability to repair damage)
Not all species are critical to an ecosystems function; many fill redundant roles; basis for community resilience and integrity
If too many species or keystone species are lost, eventually it leads to the failure of ecosystem function