What is it called when organisms collectively are disturbed by changes in their ecosystem?

The term that describes when organisms are collectively disturbed by changes in their ecosystem is known as ecological disruption. This concept encompasses a wide range of changes that can affect the balance of an ecosystem, including alterations in habitat, climate, or resource availability. When ecological disruption occurs, it can lead to shifts in species interactions, the loss of biodiversity, and changes in ecosystem function.

This term effectively captures the idea of a system responding dynamically to disturbances that can stem from natural events or human-induced changes. In contrast, the other options, while related to ecological issues, address more specific scenarios or outcomes. Habitat destruction refers to the direct loss of the environment where organisms live, environmental degradation involves the decline in the quality of ecosystems, and species extinction pertains to the complete loss of particular species, which is a potential outcome of ecological disruption. Thus, ecological disruption is the most encompassing term for the collective disturbance of organisms within an ecosystem due to various changes.