In species-rich ecosystems, the individual habitat niches are diverse and interwoven in their functions for the system. This makes the ecosystem more resilient. Various studies have shown that species-rich ecosystems are more productive and store more carbon in the soil. It is also more difficult for invasive species to establish themselves in species-rich and therefore more resilient ecosystems.

Changing conditions due to climate change are causing many species to become extinct, eliminating their functions in the ecosystem and making ecosystems more unstable.

Sources:

Isbell, F., Craven, D., Connolly, J. et al. Biodiversity increases the resistance of ecosystem productivity to climate extremes. Nature 526, 574-577 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15374

Huang,Y. et al.(2018): Impacts of species richness on productivity in a large-scale subtropical forest experiment.Science362,80-83(2018).DOI:10.1126/science.aat6405 at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat6405 (last accessed 08.05.23)

Chen, S. et al.(2018): Plant diversity enhances productivity and soilcarbon storage at: https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.1700298114 (last accessed on 08.05.23)