Multiple stable states

Multiple stable states refer to situations where a system can settle into different, enduring conditions depending on its starting point or disturbances. Think of a ball in a landscape of hills and valleys: it can rest in any valley, each representing a different stable state. These states are resistant to small changes, meaning the system tends to stay in one of these states until a significant disturbance causes it to shift to another. Examples include ecosystems that can exist in different configurations or climate patterns that have multiple stable options, all maintained by internal feedbacks.