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Synopsis Ecologists have been observing and documenting that most, if not all, ecosystems are not in balance. But why should scientists be concerned with whether an ecosystem is in equilibrium? The answer to this question is crucial for understanding biodiversity. In the process of gene mutation, all heritable diversity ultimately arises at the molecular level. Gene mutations are chemical changes that take place in the composition of the DNA molecule. According to modern ecological theory, every species in a community occupies a singular ecological niche, or a role in the environment. Niche theory predicts that communities that vary in total resources or in the quality of those resources will contain more niches and, therefore, more species. This book encompasses highly rich and well-researched readings on the theme.