Q.52 Which of the following is a feature of a stable community?
1. Susceptible to invasions by alien species
2. Susceptible to occasional disturbances
3. Resistant to occasional disturbances
4. More variation in the productivity.
Stable Community Features in Ecology
A stable community is resistant to occasional disturbances, making option 3 correct.
Community Stability Defined
Stable communities maintain consistent structure, productivity, and species composition despite environmental pressures.
Core attributes include high biodiversity, low productivity fluctuations, and recovery capacity (resilience).
Stability reflects evolutionary adaptation where interspecies interactions buffer external changes.
Correct Answer: Option 3
Resistant to occasional disturbances defines stability—communities withstand natural/man-made perturbations without collapsing.
| Option | Statement | Stable Community Fit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Susceptible to invasions by alien species | No—stable communities resist alien invasions via niche saturation |
| 2 | Susceptible to occasional disturbances | No—vulnerability indicates instability |
| 3 | Resistant to occasional disturbances | Yes—resistance + resilience hallmark |
| 4 | More variation in productivity | No—stable shows minimal yearly productivity variation |
Option Analysis
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Option 1 (Incorrect): Stable communities prevent exotic invasions through competitive exclusion and resource limitation.
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Option 2 (Incorrect): Susceptibility implies fragility; stability requires withstanding shocks like storms or fires.
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Option 3 (Correct): Matches textbook criteria—resistance maintains equilibrium post-disturbance.
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Option 4 (Incorrect): High productivity swings signal instability; stable communities exhibit constancy.
This concept underlies biodiversity conservation, as diverse communities better resist perturbations in exams like NEET.
