An ecological crisis occurs when the environment of a species or a population changes in a way that destabilizes its continued survival. There are many possible causes of such crises:
- It may be that the environment quality degrades compared to the species' needs, after a change of abiotic ecological factor (for example, an increase of temperature, less significant rainfalls).
- It may be that the environment becomes unfavourable for the survival of a species (or a population) due to an increased pressure of predation.
- Lastly, it may be that the situation becomes unfavourable to the quality of life of the species (or the population) due to raise in the number of individuals (overpopulation).
The evolutionary theory of punctuated equilibrium sees infrequent ecological crises as a potential driver of rapid evolution.
Read more about Ecological Crisis: Abiotic Factors, Biodiversity Extinction, Overpopulation, Other Examples
Famous quotes containing the words ecological and/or crisis:
“The hatred of the youth culture for adult society is not a disinterested judgment but a terror-ridden refusal to be hooked into the, if you will, ecological chain of breathing, growing, and dying. It is the demand, in other words, to remain children.”
—Midge Decter (b. 1927)
“In crisis is cleverness born.”
—Chinese proverb.
Related Phrases
Related Words