Can ecosystems ‘malfunction’? (opens in new tab)

We are told the natural world is ‘breaking down’. But forests don’t work like aeroplanes or human heartsA version of this piece was originally published on Aeon as The Amazon rainforest, , is losing its capacity as a carbon sink and now emits more than it absorbs. In the tropics, marine scientists are reporting that coral reefs are in decline, threatening fish stocks. Equally concerning is , a vast system of ocean currents that helps regulate the climate and is at risk of collapsing this cent...