Linkages (Interdependence) = Vullnerability? (1 Viewer)

[lath]

So i was reading the macquarie hsc guide and it says that "all elements of ecosystems are interdependent. This interdependence makes ecosystems vulnerable"

Then later on it says "ecosystems with a high degree of interdependence have a higher capacity to absorb change while ecosystems with low interdependence are more vulnerable to change"

Im a little confused about whether interdependence causes vulnerability or not? Can someone please explain this to me.

 

[s_bilgrami89]

High degree means that there are more linkages e.g more primary consumers for secondary consumers to rely on, so that ecosystem can absorb change easily, while low degree is the opposite where secondary consumers rely on few primary consumers so it is vulnerable to change e.g an example of low degree interdependence is how whales rely on mainly krill

 

[lath]

Thanks!