Biosphere Contents

4. Interdependence

Negative feedback can be observed in the relationship between the Kaibab deer and the vegetation they consume

Deer

The effect of deer population growth was to reduce the vegetation cover through overgrazing. This caused the deer population to decline, eventually allowing the vegetation to recover; this subsequently allowed the deer population to stabilise, albeit at a much lower level. This type of mechanism is termed a 'homeostatic mechanism' or 'negative feedback', and leads to a stable system.

Can you think of other examples of negative feedback in an ecosystem?