In the western U.S., ranchers aggressively killed wolves because they posed a threat to their cattle. As the wolf population declined, the deer population began increasing. As a result, the surrounding forest ecosystems experienced increasing damage. The large number of deer ravaged vegetation and destroyed young trees. The entire ecosystem became degraded until wolves became protected when they were determined to be an endangered species. Based on this information, what can you infer about the role of the wolves in this ecosystem?
·
They are a pioneer species.
·
They are a keystone species.
·
They are a prey species.
· They are a competitive species.
My answer is B based on my article
its B
I agree.
as do i
which is your answer
Thank you :)))
To confirm your inference about the role of wolves in this ecosystem, let's break down the different options and see which one aligns with the information provided:
A) Pioneer Species: Pioneer species are typically the first organisms to colonize a new or disturbed habitat. However, the information does not mention wolves being responsible for colonizing or initiating any ecological succession, so we can rule out this option.
B) Keystone Species: Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and stability of an ecosystem. They have a significant influence on the structure and function of the community. In the given scenario, the decline in the wolf population resulted in an increase in deer population, which in turn caused damage to the surrounding forest ecosystems. This suggests that wolves were serving as a keystone species, regulating the deer population and preventing overgrazing of vegetation. Therefore, your inference aligns with this option.
C) Prey Species: Prey species are organisms that are hunted and consumed by predators. While it's mentioned that wolves were killed due to threatening concerns to cattle, there is no direct information indicating that wolves are purely prey species in this context. Therefore, this option does not accurately reflect the role of wolves in the given scenario.
D) Competitive Species: Competitive species refers to organisms that compete with others for resources such as food or habitat. Although wolves, as predators, naturally compete with other predators for prey, the given information primarily focuses on the impact of the declining wolf population on the deer and forest ecosystems. As a result, it does not strongly indicate that wolves were primarily a competitive species in this particular context.
So, after examining these options and considering the information provided, your inference aligns with B) They are a keystone species.