1.2.9—Stable equilibrium in ecosystems
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 1.2.9
- Level
- SL
Equilibrium Can Still Be Busy
Stable equilibrium is a tendency to return after disturbance; steady-state equilibrium is an open system whose ongoing inputs and outputs balance around an average state.
Look for recovery after disturbance for stable equilibrium, and balanced flows for steady state. Neither means that components stop moving.
A forest can have constant births, deaths and nutrient flows while average biomass stays similar: a dynamic steady state.
Stability or stable equilibrium; check recovery, not stillness.
Equilibrium does not mean no movement or no short-term change.