Which of the following best describes ecosystem resilience?

Ecosystem resilience refers specifically to the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances, such as natural disasters, human activities, or changes in environmental conditions. This concept emphasizes how well an ecosystem can bounce back after experiencing stress or disruption, rather than predicting its stability or the overall biodiversity. Resilient ecosystems are often able to restore their structure and functions after such events, maintaining their fundamental ecological processes and supporting the species that depend on them.

While diverse species within an ecosystem can contribute to resilience — as greater biological variety can enhance ecosystem functionality and recovery — it is not the definition of resilience itself. The amount of energy produced relates more to productivity than resilience, and stability under varying conditions can be part of resilience but does not encompass the essential idea of recovery from disturbances. Thus, the best descriptor of ecosystem resilience is the ability to recover from disturbances.