In order to monitor and manipulate these processes, scientists define ecosystem boundaries operationally. Ecosystem function depends on its structure, diversity and integrity. Ecosystem Management seeks to maintain biological diversity as a critical component in strengthening ecosystems against disturbance. This challenge is compounded by the fact that diversity itself is a dynamic property of ecosystems. Thus, management of biological diversity requires a broad perspective and recognition that the complexity and function of any particular location is influenced heavily by the surrounding system.
Ecosystems are dynamic in space and time.
Ecosystem Management is challenging in part because ecosystems are constantly changing. Over time scales of decades or centuries, many landscapes are altered by natural disturbances that lead to mosaics of successional patches of different ages. Such patch dynamics are critical to ecosystem structure and function. While the earth's environment has changed dramatically over its four billion-year history, at no time have its ecosystems experienced change at the rate or in the manner at which it is occurring today. The rapidity of change and the novel character of many human impacts present special challenges to our ability to manage ecosystems sustainably.