What is the Biotic Stability?

Biotic Stability:

One of the principle of nature is stability amidst diversity. The larger the number of diverse forms present in a community, the more stable that community will be. It means that the stability of a community depends not on the large populations of a few species but upon the number of populations of different species.

Examples of Biotic Stability:

(1) A large population of a single species of Eucalyptus is likely to be totally wiped out by fungal disease or insect attack. When there are many species of trees, only one species may be affected by a disease or a pest whereas the rest would survive.

(2) The stability of a community is displayed by the large population of wild animals in Africa. In the Serengeti plains of Africa, about 20 species of antelopes live together in the area. Each species of antelope eats a different kind of grass or shrub. Some may even feed on the same kind of shrub but at different stages of its growth. This division of food preference enables all animals to get adequate nutrition and also keeps the habitat productive. But it has been observed that the destruction of wildlife and introduction of domestic animals for grazing in an area destroys the productivity of the land.