The go-to data point used to indicate whether an institution is helping students reach success has tended to be its graduation rate. Post-graduation employment is another indicator but the definition of student success has evolved to include many more areas.
However, many examples exist of non-linear and sometimes abrupt changes in ecosystems. A change may be gradual until a particular pressure on the ecosystem reaches a threshold, at which point rapid shifts to a new state occur. Some non-linear changes can be very large and have substantial impacts on human well-being.
An ecosystem can be as large as an ocean or as small as a puddle. Very large ecosystems are known as biomes. An important point to recognize about ecosystems is the interaction between a grouping of plants and animals and their non-living environment and how the two strive to achieve a balance.n ecosystem refers to all the living organisms and their non-living environment within a given area. Note that this definition includes two. components; the living component which consists of the animals, plants and microbes, and the non-living component which refers to the air, water, rocks, soil and weather.