What element, following the initial shock of the Permian-Triassic extinction, severely hampered ecosystem recovery for millions of years?
Answer
Lack of species richness leading to loss of functional diversity
The study of the Permian-Triassic event suggests that the ensuing lack of species richness prevented ecosystems from regaining essential functions like nutrient cycling for millions of years, effectively locking them into a collapsed state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fundamentally characterizes ecosystem collapse?Which of the following is NOT listed as one of the five main drivers accelerating ecosystem collapse?What element, following the initial shock of the Permian-Triassic extinction, severely hampered ecosystem recovery for millions of years?What term describes processes where initial environmental damage sets off a chain reaction that accelerates the degradation process itself?What do some mathematical models suggest about systems exhibiting high diversity and complex interactions regarding collapse timing?What effect can the removal of a keystone species have on an ecosystem structure?How does functional redundancy influence an ecosystem's resilience?In the coral reef example illustrating risk interplay, what external event physically damaged the weakened structure after chemical and temperature stress?What is a major hurdle in conservation efforts regarding slow decline?How does the physical architecture of an ecosystem, such as a complex, three-dimensional structure, contribute to stability?