Examples of ecosystems that are chronically exposed to high levels of abiotic stress

Photos of (a) coastal wetland, (b) coral reef, (c) dryland, and (d) alpine ecosystems. These ecosystems are chronically exposed to high levels of abiotic stress that approach physiological tolerance limits. As a result, these are ecosystems that can be transformed by small changes in climatic drivers that exceed critical physiological thresholds or alleviate stress near thresholds. Photo credits: U.S. Geological Survey. From the study Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress.