what will happen to an ecosystem that is experiencing a prolonged drought?

An ecosystem experiencing a prolonged drought will undergo significant and lasting changes including water scarcity, stress on plants and animals, soil degradation, and shifts in ecosystem structure. Water sources such as rivers and reservoirs dry up, leading to increased plant mortality and reduced biodiversity. Vegetation size and survival rates decline as plants allocate more resources to roots to find water. Animals, particularly aquatic species, face survival challenges due to reduced water and food availability, resulting in population declines and altered food chains. Soil health deteriorates with less microbial activity, increased erosion, and changed soil properties that affect nutrient cycling and plant growth. As a result, ecosystems can shift permanently from one type (e.g., forest) to another (e.g., grassland), often with reduced carbon sequestration and weakened resilience to future stresses. Overall, ecosystem services such as water purification, carbon storage, and habitat provision are compromised, impacting both nature and human communities.