Question

The term homeostasis in an ecosystem refers to -
(a) Self-regulatory mechanism
(b) Feedback mechanism
(c) Influence of productivity
(d) Stage of equilibrium

Answer 1

Hint: The term homeostasis in human beings refers to the maintenance of steady internal, physical, or chemical conditions by maintaining the optimal functioning of the organs and the system. If you think of an ecosystem, it must also maintain its steadiness. It must have an optimal temperature, wind, sustenance, and the conditions should not change at the strongest interference as well.

Complete step by step answer:
- Homeostasis in ecology is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its overall stability despite any disturbances. It is a result of the combination of biodiversity and the ecological interactions that occur between the species.
- The ecosystem is maintained as an equilibrium. Equilibrium in this setting means that the ecosystem is almost or relatively stable. It cannot be completely stable as it is a highly diverse system.
- The values of some factors are in a specific range, if not a fixed value. For example, the population of a species will remain in a particular range and will go up or down depending on the season or the environment but as long as the trend does not go upwards or downwards, the system remains stable.

Additional Information:
- Homeostasis in an ecological system is maintained through negative feedback. The negative feedbacks counteract the change in the environment, but they do not work as efficiently as their counterparts in human beings and other living bodies.
- Resource constraints are one of the major inducers of negative feedback. For example, if a resource is limited or is almost depleted, the death rate of its consumers increases, or the birth rate decreases.
- Another example is when lions prey on deers, for a period of time, the population of lions increases and deers decreases. To fix that, the birth rate of lions reduces, and that of deers increases.
So, the correct answer is ‘(d) Stage of equilibrium’.

Note:
- The concept of ecological homeostasis has recently included abiotic components as a part of the ecosystem as well.
- The concept is now being used to also include the interactions between biotic and abiotic components.