balance of nature

noun

1. population equilibrium among organisms and their environments resulting from continuous interaction and interdependency.

balance of nature

noun

1. the stable state in which natural communities of animals and plants exist, maintained by adaptation, competition, and other interactions between members of the communit ies and their nonliving environment

balance of nature

1. A concept in ecology that describes natural systems as being in a state of equilibrium , in which disturbing one element disturbs the entire system. The inference is usually drawn that the natural state of any system is the preferred state and that it is best to leave it undisturbed. Modern ecologists no longer believe that a balance of nature exists.

Word History and Origins

Origin of balance of nature¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

As she demonstrates, it’s impossible to separate deer from American and European notions of a mythical “balance of nature.”

From Los Angeles Times

Giuliani punctuated his series of right-wing, pro-Trump rants with promotions for Balance of Nature supplements, of which the Food and Drug Administration has released several warnings over “the company’s claims that its products could be used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cirrhosis, diabetes, asthma, and COVID-19.”

From Salon

The fate of monkeys is, in essence, a reflection of our commitment to preserving the delicate balance of nature, and by safeguarding them, we secure a brighter, more harmonious future for all living beings.

From Salon

The film shows what happens to a small, rural community when a Tokyo talent agency decides to build an upmarket glamping site in the nearby woods, threatening to contaminate the village water supply and disturb the balance of nature.

From Reuters

To assume that humans in any way can effectively control the balance of nature is an exercise in futility.

From Washington Post