Ecosystem Resilience Research Articles

Assessing Groundwater Connection/Disconnection to Waterholes Along the Balonne River and in the Barwon–Darling River System in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, for Waterhole Persistence

Waterholes in semi-arid environment are sections of rivers that fill during high river flows or floods and keep water once flow ceases. They are essential water sources for rive ecosystems. Some waterholes remain even during prolonged droughts. The resilience of ecosystems in these environments depends on the persistence of the waterholes. While most semi-arid, ephemeral river systems are disconnected from regional groundwater and losing in most parts there may be some sections that can be connected to localised groundwater or parafluvial areas. To assess the persistence of waterholes the groundwater contribution to the water balance needs to be addressed. This study assesses groundwater connectivity to waterholes in a part of the Murray-Darling Basin, one of the largest watersheds in the world, using environmental tracers radon and stable isotopes. Approximately 100 samples were collected from 27 waterholes along the Narran, Calgoa, Barwon and Darling rivers, as well as 8 groundwater bore samples. The assessment of groundwater connectivity or the lack of is necessary from water balance modelling and estimation of persistence of these waterholes. As expected, the results indicate consistently low radon concentrations in the waterholes and very small deviation in stable isotopes δ18O and δ2H. In general, most of these waterholes are losing water to groundwater, indicated by low salinity (EC values) and low radon concentrations. While radon concentrations are small in most cases and indicative of little groundwater contributions, some variability can be assigned to bank return and parafluvial flow. It indicates that these contributions may have implications for waterhole persistence in ephemeral streams. The study demonstrates that in some cases local bank return flow or parafluvial flow may contribute to waterhole persistence.

Aquatic Invertebrate Antimicrobial Peptides in the Fight Against Aquaculture Pathogens

The intensification of aquaculture has escalated disease outbreaks and overuse of antibiotics, driving the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) provide a promising alternative due to their rapid, broad-spectrum activity, low AMR risk, and additional bioactivities, including immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antifouling properties. AMPs derived from aquatic invertebrates, particularly marine-derived, are well-suited for aquaculture, offering enhanced stability in high-salinity environments. This study compiles and analyzes data from AMP databases and over 200 scientific sources, identifying approximately 350 AMPs derived from aquatic invertebrates, mostly cationic and α-helical, across 65 protein families. While in vitro assays highlight their potential, limited in vivo studies hinder practical application. These AMPs could serve as feed additives, therapeutic agents, or in genetic engineering approaches like CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transgenesis to enhance resilience of farmed species. Despite challenges such as stability, ecological impacts, and regulatory hurdles, advancements in peptidomimetics and genetic engineering hold significant promise. Future research should emphasize refining AMP enhancement techniques, expanding their diversity and bioactivity profiles, and prioritizing comprehensive in vivo evaluations. Harnessing the potential of AMPs represents a significant step forward on the path to aquaculture sustainability, reducing antibiotic dependency, and combating AMR, ultimately safeguarding public health and ecosystem resilience.

Analyzing the Impact of Geoenvironmental Factors on the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Forest Cover via Random Forest

Understanding the dynamic relationships between geoenvironmental factors and forest vegetation cover is crucial for effective forest management and planning. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest cover in the Duhok District in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq over a decade (2013–2023), emphasizing the impact of geoenvironmental factors via Random Forest algorithms and Landsat data. This research integrates datasets including fractional vegetation cover (FVC), groundwater levels, climate data, topography, and soil moisture data, offering a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing forest cover. The results show that in 2013, altitude and rainfall were the primary factors influencing FVC, with areas of higher altitudes and adequate rainfall exhibiting up to 30% denser forest cover. By 2023, soil moisture and groundwater levels had emerged as the dominant factors, with soil moisture levels accounting for 25% of the variation in FVC. This shift underscores the increasing importance of water management strategies to maintain forest health. The Random Forest model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, achieving an R2 value of 0.918 (RMSE of 0.016 and MAE of 0.013) for 2013 and 0.916 (RMSE of 0.018 and MAE of 0.014) for 2023, underscoring the model’s robustness in handling nonlinear ecological processes. This study’s insights are crucial for guiding sustainable forest management practices and assisting decision-makers in formulating strategies for resource management, environmental preservation, and future planning. This study underscores the necessity of adaptive management strategies that consider evolving climatic and hydrological conditions, emphasizing continuous monitoring and advanced technologies to ensure the resilience of forest ecosystems.

Unconventional Coastal Structures (Kemit Armor Layer)

ABSTRACTThe growth of the marine sector induces substantial demand to develop new types of coastal structures that have minimal impact on neighboring ecosystems and reduce the environmental footprint. This study aims to introduce and check the efficiency of an innovative armor layer for coastal protection towards fostering sustainable coastal management practices. The proposed truncated cube (named Kemit) design incorporates features such as two hollow opposite elbows, half rings, and incomplete pyramidal shapes to enhance wave absorption and promote marine biodiversity. The proposed armor unit has been investigated physically in the wide wave flume of the Coastal Research Institute Egypt. The armor layer performance was introduced through wave reflection, wave dissipation coefficients, and wave overtopping. Six wave conditions (wave height and wave period) were performed to the armor layer in two states of submergence. A comparative analysis with traditional cube‐armored breakwaters under the same circumstances (wave height, wave period, and water depth) reveals superior performance of the proposed “Kemit” armor layer, exhibiting lower wave reflection coefficients (0.56 to 0.68) and lower overtopping, particularly evident in medium water depths. However, in case of lower water depth, the traditional cubes show better efficiency, lower reflection coefficient (0.46 to 0.68), and higher dissipation (0.74 to 0.89). Moreover, the proposed Kemit armor layer decreased the wave overtopping and run‐up over the breakwater cross‐section due to the Kemit steps and porosity. Furthermore, the adoption of innovative technologies can help policymakers increase the resilience of coastal infrastructure and ecosystems.

Research on the Role of Biodiversity in Protecting the Ecosystem Against Climate Change

As climate change intensifies, its impact on ecosystems has become increasingly severe, threatening the survival of various species and leading to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. Biodiversity, encompassing the variety of life on Earth, plays a critical role in maintaining ecosystem stability, buffering against the effects of climate change, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. This study explores the multifaceted role of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functionality amidst the challenges posed by climate change. By reviewing existing literature and case studies across different ecosystems, this research highlights biodiversity facilitates nutrient cycling and energy flow, which stabilizes the ecosystem, acts as a natural buffer against extreme weather events, and enhances ecosystem resilience by providing functional redundancy. The findings underscore the importance of biodiversity conservation as a strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and sustain the health and functionality of ecosystems worldwide.

Editorial: Plant diversity: the key to ecosystem resilience in a changing world

Editorial: Plant diversity: the key to ecosystem resilience in a changing world

The Role of Molluscs in Monitoring Marine Pollution and its Connection to Climate Change and ESG

Molluscs possess a unique capability to filter and remove pollutants from water, offering a natural and effective solution to combat marine pollution. Their filtration process not only enhances water quality but also mitigates the detrimental impacts of contaminants on marine ecosystems. As climate change introduces unprecedented challenges, the resilience of molluscs—particularly in adapting to rising temperatures and ocean acidification—highlights their critical role in sustaining marine ecosystem balance. This paper reviews the literature on molluscs from 1874 to 2024, as documented in the Scopus database, analyzing 5,757 publications retrieved on 8 March 2024. Five major insights emerged: (a) molluscs’ significant ecological role, (b) the potential of marine bivalves for ecosystem health and sustainability, (c) the importance of monitoring molluscs to address climate change, (d) the scarcity of studies linking molluscs to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, and (e) existing knowledge gaps. Understanding and monitoring mollusc populations are essential for advancing environmental stewardship, fostering social responsibility, and promoting sound governance. Integrating these aspects within business operations can support marine ecosystem resilience and reflect a commitment to the planet's and society's holistic well-being.

How should we bend the curve of biodiversity loss to build a just and sustainable future?

Current rates of habitat and biodiversity loss, and the threat they pose to ecological and economic productivity, would be considered a global emergency even if they were not occurring during a period of rapid anthropogenic climate change. Diversity at all levels of biological organization, both within and among species, and across genomes and communities, is critical for the resilience of the world's ecosystems in the face of such change. However, it remains an urgent scientific challenge to understand how biodiversity underpins these ecological outputs, how patterns of biodiversity are being affected by current threats, and how and where such biodiversity contributes most directly to human economies, well-being and social justice. In addition, even with such scientific understanding, there is a pressing need for societies to incorporate biodiversity protection into their economies and governance, and to stop subsidizing the loss of humanity's future prosperity for short-term private benefit. We highlight key issues and ways forward in these areas, inspired by the research and career of Dame Georgina Mace FRS, and by our discussions during the Royal Society meeting of June 2023.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Bending the curve towards nature recovery: building on Georgina Mace's legacy for a biodiverse future'.

Enhanced rock weathering boosts ecosystem multifunctionality via improving microbial networks complexity in a tropical forest plantation

Afforestation is expected to contribute to mitigate global change by promoting carbon stocks and multiple ecosystem services. However, the success of plantations may be limited by the availability of soil nutrients. This is especially critical for plantations in tropical ecosystems which are known to be nutrient poor ecosystems. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) represents a promising strategy for improving soil health and carbon sequestration in such ecosystems.We added wollastonite skarn, a calcium silicate rock, to soils in a rubber plantation in Yunnan, China, as part of an ERW strategy aimed at promoting soil functioning and biodiversity. Statistical significance was determined using a linear mixed-effects model, with p-values indicating the level of significance.The addition of wollastonite skarn significantly enhanced key ecosystem functions related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, biodiversity, and pathogen control. However, it did not significantly affect soil enzyme activity. Some of these responses to the addition of wollastonite skarn may be associated with an increase in soil pH.Microbial network complexity played a critical role in explaining the changes in ecosystem multifunctionality in response to ERW, through both direct and indirect pathways. Synthesis and applicationsOur findings suggest that ERW is a viable strategy for improving soil health and ecosystem resilience in tropical plantations, which are limited in nutrients. Thus, ERW has implications for carbon management and climate change mitigation.

Tropical cyclone risk for global ecosystems in a changing climate

Coastal ecosystems provide a range of services including erosion prevention, clean water provision and carbon sequestration. With climate change, the rapid change in frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones may alter the composition of the ecosystems themselves potentially degrading the services they provide. Here we classify global ecoregions into dependent, resilient and vulnerable and show that a combined 9.4% of the surface of all terrestrial ecosystems is susceptible to transformation due to cyclone pattern changes between 1980–2017 and 2015–2050 under climate scenario SSP5-8.5 using the STORM model. Even for the most resilient ecosystems already experiencing winds >60 m s−1 regularly, the average interval between two storms is projected to decrease from 19 to 12 years which is potentially close to their recovery time. Our study advocates for a shift in the consideration of the tropical cyclone impact from immediate damage to effects on long-term natural recovery cycles.

Soil macrofauna trophic structure and its relationship with soil factors in oases of contrasting cultivation ages

Transforming arid and semi-arid deserts into farmlands significantly alters soil moisture and fertility, affecting the trophic structure and functionality of soil fauna. Diversity and function of soil macrofaunal community can accurately reflect changes in soil quality and health during the succession of oasis farmlands. In this study, the assemblage of soil macrofauna and soil environmental factors in cultivated and abandoned croplands in the Zhangye Oasis of Gansu Province, were investigated using a hand-sorting method, and we analyzed the relationship between the trophic structure of soil macrofauna and the soil environment. Our results showed that: 1) Farmland cultivation increased the soil water content, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), while reducing pH. 2) The density, taxon richness, and Shannon-Wiener index of soil macrofauna in cultivated croplands were higher than in abandoned croplands, increasing with cultivation duration. The density of soil macrofauna in 100-year-old farmlands was 2.5, 1.5 and 1.4 times of that in 10-year-old, 30-year-old and 50-year-old farmlands; 3) the density and taxon richness of predatory, phytophagous, and other feeding types of soil macrofauna in cultivated croplands were higher than those of abandoned croplands. The observed increases in density and taxon richness are likely due to the improved soil conditions resulting from cultivation practices. The density-based ratio of predatory to phytophagous and other feeding types of soil macrofauna initially increases then decreases, inversely related to cultivation age. 4) changes in soil environment had little effect on the predatory soil macrofaunal community, and the explained variance by SOC, TP, and pH indicates the significant influence of these soil properties on the composition of the phytophagous soil macrofaunal community. SOC, TP, and pH explained 7.3 % of the variation in phytophagous soil macrofaunal community, while TN, TP, and pH explained 15.4 % of the variation in other feeding types of soil macrofauna. In conclusion, our findings highlight the positive impact of oasis farmland cultivation on soil quality and the enhancement of soil macrofauna diversity, which in turn could contribute to the resilience and productivity of these agricultural ecosystems.

Boulder ramps as a restoration measure: Increasing in the resilience of mountain freshwater ecosystems to environmental changes.

Mountain environments, as biodiversity hotspots, are subject to numerous anthropological pressures. In mountain areas, a common threat to stream biocenoses is the timber industry. Timber industry increases the fine sediment input into the mountain rivers; furthermore, timber transport requires the construction of low-water crossings across streams. Transversal barriers (weirs/fords/pipe culverts) may cause excessive erosion downstream and the accumulation of fine sediments upstream, thereby decreasing habitat heterogeneity. Moreover, mountain stream communities are sensitive to climate change; for e.g., climate change may result in increasing water temperature and decreasing flows. Boulder ramps are considered effective restoration measure for rivers; benthic macroinvertebrate community composition is an effective indicator of stream health. In this study, we selected two mountain streams catchment with forest management. The control was a stream without any objects in the streambed related to timber transport. The other stream contained weirs and pipe culverts. We considered an extensive study period that covered the stages before (2009) and after restoration (2014, 2017-2018, 2019). We present the hypothesis that boulder ramps can restore in-stream habitats, improve biodiversity, and increase the resilience of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to future environmental changes. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of boulder ramps for mountain streams restoration. We indicated, that the habitat potential of the restored stream-reach for rheophilic and lithophilic invertebrates increased substantially. Moreover, the restored riffles allowed the streambed to be cleared of fine sediments, offering the microrefugia, which were beneficial for mountain stream invertebrates, thereby increasing the diversity and resilience of the benthic communities.

Urban parks affect soil macroinvertebrate communities: The case of Tehran, Iran.

Land use change represents a significant environmental transformation on a global scale, profoundly impacting natural ecosystems. The conversion of rangelands into urban parks can adversely affect soil characteristics and biodiversity. This transformation may lead to alterations in soil properties and invertebrate communities, subsequently influencing ecosystem functioning and resilience. This study aims to investigate the diversity of soil macroinvertebrates and examine the impacts of land use changes on their communities. Therefore, sampling was conducted at three locations in Tehran (Chitgar, Lavizan, and Darakeh), where rangelands surround by urban parks. Two sites were selected within each region, and 72 quadrats surveyed the study area. In total, 1517 samples were collected and classified into 267 morphological operational taxonomic units (MorphOTUs). Our findings indicate that the total abundance of macroinvertebrates is higher in rangeland habitats, with a count of 872, compared to 645 in urban parks. Additionally, rangelands demonstrate a greater diversity of MorphOTUs than urban parks. Specifically, Chitgar, Lavizan, and Darakeh reported 162, 141, and 190 MorphOTUs, respectively, while urban parks reported 152, 122, and 118. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were employed on abundance, diversity, and macroinvertebrate communities to examine the impacts of changing rangelands to urban parks. Our research indicates that land use change from rangelands to urban parks can significantly (p-value < 0.05) affect the abundance and community composition of macroinvertebrates, as these groups are sensitive to land use changes. Beta diversity analysis indicated turnover happened between them (Chitgar=0.986; Lavizan=0.983; Darakeh=0.983). The SIMPER analysis showed that several MorphOTUs have contributed to this dissimilarity in every location. Furthermore, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index values for Araneae, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera were slightly higher in the rangeland than in the urban park. Our results also exhibited a diverse range of species in urban parks highlighting their important role in supporting biodiversity. Given that these parks have been established for many years, they have had ample opportunity to recover and enhance their ecological value. This study emphasizes that attention to soil organisms is essential for addressing conservation issues. Therefore, studying macroinvertebrate groups as biological indicators can assist in monitoring the effects of land use changes and will contribute to ecosystem management.

Advancing diurnal analysis of vegetation responses to drought events in the Yangtze River Basin using next-generation satellite data.

Extreme climate events, particularly droughts, pose significant threats to vegetation, severely impacting ecosystem functionality and resilience. However, the limited temporal resolution of current satellite data hinders accurate monitoring of vegetation's diurnal responses to these events. To address this challenge, we leveraged the advanced satellite ECOSTRESS, combining its high-resolution evapotranspiration (ET) data with a LightGBM model to generate the hourly continuous ECOSTRESS-based ET (HC-ETECO) for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) from 2015 to 2022. This dataset showed strong agreement with both ground-based and satellite observations. Utilizing the SPEI, we identified the significant drought period: September to November 2019 and August to September 2022. By integrating hourly Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) data, we observed that during drought period, the typical afternoon peak in SIF was absent. In contrast to non-drought period, morning photosynthesis and SIF-based Water Use Efficiency (WUESIF) anomalies were primarily driven by high Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), while the afternoon reductions were influenced by both high VPD and low Soil Moisture (SM) as the drought progressed. Our simulated HC-ETECO data revealed that ET in the middle and lower reaches of the YRB was consistently lower than normal during drought period. Attribution analysis indicated that this reduction was primarily driven by midday temperature increases and high VPD, suggesting that vegetation in the region copes with drought stress predominantly by limiting water loss. These findings highlight the utility of the generated high-resolution ET dataset in advancing our understanding of vegetation dynamics under drought climate conditions. This work provides critical insights for enhancing climate adaptation strategies and enhancing ecosystem management practices in the face of increasing climate variability.

Flooding increases plant-derived carbon accumulation in soils of aquatic-terrestrial ecotone

Soils in the aquatic-terrestrial zone undergo periodic flooding and act as significant carbon sinks. However, the mechanisms governing soil organic carbon (SOC) formation in these zones are not well understood. This study elucidates the effects of periodic flooding on SOC accumulation at the water level drawdown zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, using lignin phenols and amino sugars as indicators of plant- and microbial-derived carbon. Results showed that SOC content averaged at 7.52, 8.31, and 8.76 g kg−1 in 0–20 cm soils at low, intermediate, and high flooding levels, respectively, compared to 5.87 g kg−1 in control soils. Total lignin phenols and amino sugars averaged at 0.351, 0.377, 0.337 g kg−1 and 0.697, 0.718, 0.756 g kg−1 in 0–20 cm soils at high, intermediate, and low flooding levels, respectively, compared to 0.161 and 0.624 g kg−1 in control soils. Similar patterns were observed in 20–40 cm soils. Periodic flooding significantly enhanced the accumulation of plant-derived carbon and its contribution to SOC accumulation by decreasing lignin phenol oxidation, while microbial-derived carbon contribution remained unaffected. Ratios of cinnamyl to vanillyl (1.13 in flooded soils vs. 1.08 in control) and syringyl to vanillyl (0.20 in flooded soils vs. 0.17 in control) indicated that lignin phenols originated primarily from woody angiosperms and remained stable. Flooding also modified edaphic variables, such as clay mineral and particle feature, enhancing organic compound accumulation. Clay minerals, particularly chlorite and kaolinite, played more pivotal roles than illite in regulating SOC accumulation. These findings underscore the potential for managing flooding regimes as a strategy to enhance carbon sequestration and improve ecosystem resilience in aquatic-terrestrial zones.

Unravelling wetland connectivity: a comparative analysis of landscape structure and connectivity between natural and unnatural (artificial) wetlands in Van Sub-basin

This study compares natural and artificial wetlands in Türkiye’s Van sub-basin, exploring human impacts on landscape connectivity and species diversity. It examines how habitat fragmentation affects species isolation and long-term viability, involving 14 natural and 9 artificial wetlands to improve conservation strategies. A four-stage methodology was used to analyze wetland connectivity. First, focal nodes and resistance surfaces were defined using Corine 2018 data and topographic wetness index (TWI). Second, resistance maps were created. Third, habitat fragmentation was assessed using Fragstats software, analysing metrics like PLAND, and CONNECT. Finally, connectivity was modeled using Circuitscape software. The study revealed that natural wetlands, despite their dominance (PLAND = 89.89% for lakes), did not ensure effective connectivity. Artificial wetlands often served as crucial connectivity points, with a cumulative current value of 0.99. Land cover characteristics significantly impacted connectivity, with agricultural and forest areas promoting better connectivity. The combined analysis showed a slight increase in connectivity value (4.01687) compared to natural wetlands alone (4.01654) but a substantial increase (305%) compared to artificial wetlands alone. Artificial wetlands significantly contribute to landscape connectivity, particularly in areas with heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. Effective conservation should consider both wetland types and focus on enhancing connectivity across landscapes to mitigate habitat fragmentation and support resilient ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of integrated approaches, as the combined natural and artificial wetland network improved overall landscape connectivity by 0.0082% compared to natural wetlands alone.

A Comprehensive and Innovative Environmental PSR Model for Biodiversity Priority Conservation Areas

Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience and human well-being, yet it faces accelerating threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human activities. Conservation models often inadequately address the intertwined ecological and socio-economic drivers of biodiversity loss, leaving a gap between theoretical frameworks and real-world implementation. This study introduces an advanced Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, developed through extensive fieldwork and leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies. The model integrates ecological indicators with socio-economic factors, including stakeholder engagement, education, and local economic conditions, creating a dynamic, context-specific approach to conservation. By adopting a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the enhanced PSR model prioritizes biodiversity hotspots based on ecological urgency and socio-economic resilience. It overcomes limitations of traditional models by incorporating customizable criteria and fostering equitable conservation strategies. The approach optimizes resource allocation, ensuring interventions target areas of highest biodiversity value while balancing local development needs. This study provides a replicable and adaptable methodology for conservation planning, addressing 21st-century challenges of biodiversity loss and socio-ecological complexity. By aligning conservation priorities with sustainable development goals, the model advances a transformative framework that bridges science, policy, and practice, offering global applicability for safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services.

One Ocean – a New Regulatory Solution to Climate Change

Global heating is pushing ocean temperatures to new heights, fuelling more frequent and intense storms, rising sea levels, and the salinization of coastal lands and aquifers. Untreated sewerage and wastewater containing toxic chemicals and millions of tons of plastic waste are flooding into coastal ecosystems, killing, or injuring fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, and making their way into the food chain and ultimately being consumed by humans. More than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the world’s ocean in 2021, making up 85 per cent of marine litter, and projections are expected to double or triple each year by 2040, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report. According to UN estimates, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish unless action is taken.2 An innovative governance approach to ocean management is needed that builds ecosystem resilience to tackle the adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, and maintains and restores ecosystem integrity, including carbon cycling services. This paper discusses such an approach. Keywords Climate change, pollution, carbon capture, oceanic biosphere, continental linkages, regulatory models, governance.

Ecological Resilience in Elise Paschen's Poems “The Tree Agreement”, “Aerial, The Wild Pine” and “ Moss in April”

This research study aimed to examine the ecological resilience against the disruption in ecological networks in Elise Paschen's eco-poetry. The objective of this research delineated the investigation of the adaptive cycle. This adaptive cycle is responsible for ecological resilience and stability. The theoretical framework engaged in this qualitative research was Lance H. Gunderson's "Ecological Resilience—In Theory and Application" and C.S. Holling's "Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems". The result proclaimed that anthropogenic activities and disturbing agents like harsh weather conditions create environmental changes. This environmental turbulence in the ecosystem generates ecological resilience that leads to adaptability, high stability, flexibility, and growth to recover and maintain the ecological balance after absorbing certain disturbances. The ecosystem goes through four phases to complete the adaptive cycle: exploitative, conservation, disturbance, and reorganization. In conclusion, the highly resilient ecosystem absorbs the accelerating exploitative ecological crisis through adaptation and reorganization.

The Environmental Consequences of Extreme Tourism in Fragile Ecosystems

Extreme tourism, typically featuring high-intensity activities in isolated or pristine areas of nature, is becoming much more popular. This trend has engendered concerns over its implications for fragile ecosystems. The environmental impacts of extreme tourism are the concern of this study, with special reference to those ecosystems that are most susceptible to ecological disruption. The analysis looks into the various implications that take place in regard to soil erosion, habitat disturbance, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, events that gain intensity with increasing footfall and infrastructural demands in these regions. The paper further discusses the contribution of inadequate regulatory measures and non-existent sustainable practices within the tourism industry to environmental degradation. The present case studies and the recent data explain in detail the urgent need to establish eco-friendly policies and sustainable tourism models that balance recreational demands with environmental preservation. Results stress the importance of policy makers, tour operators, and local communities joining hands to diminish the detrimental effects of extreme tourism and ensure the resiliency of these fragile ecosystems for future generations.