collocation · academic
ecological balance
UK/ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈbæl(ə)ns/US/ˌiːkoʊˈlɑːdʒɪkəl ˈbæləns/E·co·log·i·cal BAL·ance
A stable relationship between organisms and their environment in an ecosystem.
Examples
“Introducing a new predator can upset the ecological balance of an island.”
“Pollution can disturb the ecological balance, causing some species to flourish and others to disappear.”
“Conservation aims to restore the ecological balance in degraded habitats.”
Band 8 sentence
“Policymakers need to consider how urban development will affect the ecological balance of peri‑urban wetlands.”
Collocations
- upset the ecological balance
- maintain ecological balance
Word family
Common mistakes
eco balance→ecological balance
balance of ecology→ecological balance
Say it for a higher band
5natural balance→6environmental equilibrium→7+ecological balance
Synonyms
environmental equilibrium
Easily confused
environmental equilibrium
“Losing top predators can throw the environmental equilibrium out of kilter.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Environment & Climate
Learn it with its set