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.
Climate change will affect natureâs ecosystems . and the habitats that support lifeâfrom oceans to grasslands to forests. Changes are expected to alter the makeup and functioning of ecosystems, as well as some of the critical benefits that ecosystems provide to people. Climate change can threaten ecosystems that have already been weakened by other human activities such as pollution, development, and overharvesting. This fact sheet describes some of the ways that climate change affects ecosystems. What Is an Ecosystem? An ecosystem is an interdependent system of plants, animals, and microorganisms