What are some examples of environmental impacts on an ecosystem?

Changes to an ecosystem can be small scale or large scale. The size of the change affects the amount of time it takes the ecosystem to return to normal.

Here is an example of a small scale change to an ecosystem.

In large scale changes to the environment the damage can be so bad that it takes years or decades for the ecosystem to recover.

Here is an example of a large scale change to an ecosystem.

Read the frequently asked questions about the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico at the link below from CNN (the Cable News Network.)

The oil spill affected the food webs and nutrient cycles in the ecosystems around and in the Gulf which will take many years to completely return to normal.

Succession is method by which an ecosystem forms or heals itself after an environmental change.