What does "ecosystem resilience" refer to in freshwater environments?

Ecosystem resilience in freshwater environments refers to the ability of the ecosystem to withstand disturbances—such as pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, or invasive species—while still maintaining its essential functions and biodiversity. A resilient ecosystem can absorb shocks and recover from disruptions, ensuring that species interactions, nutrient cycling, and overall ecological balance are preserved even in the face of significant changes.

This concept underscores the importance of biodiversity, as a wide variety of species can contribute to the stability of the ecosystem by fulfilling different roles and providing redundancy in functions. For example, if one species declines, others can often compensate to maintain ecosystem health and function. Thus, option B encapsulates the essence of resilience, highlighting the equilibrium a freshwater ecosystem seeks to maintain amidst challenges. The other options may address different aspects of ecological dynamics but do not capture the core meaning of resilience as effectively.