ABSTRACT
Ecological diversity refers to the species richness in a biological community-it is the diversity of a site at the level of the ecosystem. Together with genetic and species diversity, it forms the third level of biodiversity. In general, the diversity and functional complexity of an ecosystem are governed by the population and diversity of the species that are present, the interactions between these species and their interactions with the environment, and the complexity of the physical environment.[9]
The diversity of interacting types at the species or population level maintains ecological complexity and stability. It is known that species diversity has pronounced effects on ecosystem structures and functions. However, ecosystems are dynamic in the sense that they experience periodic perturbations from external forces such as environmental stochasticity and catastrophic events, and internal processes such as nutrient cycling. They have the capacity of resistance and/or resilience to disturbances, which is a function of their ecological attributes. Seasonality is a driving force behind annual changes in community composition and is
Biom es-
Ecosystem s
important in shaping the life history of individual species in terms of breeding behavior and habits. Plant and animal communities constantly and gradually alter and develop over time through a directional, non-seasonal process called succession, as a result of endogenic processes and exogenic infl uences, thus changing the diversity and structural complexity of the ecosystem. Succession drives natural ecosystem development and assists in ecosystem restoration, which can be manipulated with human interference. Primary succession occurs naturally on glacier moraines or volcanic ashes, which are changed by weathering, plant colonization, organic matter accumulation, and soil formation, which subsequently affect the community and ecosystem levels.
