Diversity in coral reef (IMAGE)
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From tropical rainforests to coral reefs, some of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems are also the most stable. This staggering diversity stands in opposition to ecological theory, which for decades has predicted that diversity begets instability. By using a different approach to modelling species growth, based on extensive data, the research suggests that although all species in ecosystems initially grow exponentially, this growth eventually slows, creating a balanced ecosystem. [
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Photos: Rhett Butler and Max Planck Institute
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