What happened to Yellowstone National Park when wolves disappeared?(1 point)
Responses
The bear population increased.
The bear population increased.
The deer population increased.
The deer population increased.
The grassy areas increased.
The grassy areas increased.
The willow tree population increased.
The willow tree population increased.
When wolves disappeared from Yellowstone National Park, several changes occurred in the ecosystem:
1. The deer population increased: Without wolves preying on them, the deer population grew unchecked. This resulted in overgrazing of plants, leading to a decline in vegetation diversity.
2. The bear population increased: Wolves used to compete with bears for food, particularly carrion. With the disappearance of wolves, bears had less competition and their population increased.
3. The grassy areas increased: With the increased deer population, the overgrazing led to a reduction in vegetation diversity. This resulted in the proliferation of grassy areas, as grasses were less preferred by deer.
4. The willow tree population decreased: Willow trees were a primary food source for deer. With the absence of wolves, deer overbrowsed the willow trees, causing their population to decline. This had a cascading effect on other species that depend on willows, such as beavers.
When wolves disappeared from Yellowstone National Park, several changes occurred in the ecosystem. One of the main effects was the increase in the population of deer, which led to overgrazing in certain areas. Without natural predators like wolves, the deer population grew rapidly, causing them to consume more vegetation than usual. This resulted in a decline in the availability of food for other herbivores and affected the overall balance of the ecosystem.
With the increased grazing pressure from deer, the grassy areas of the park started to diminish. The loss of vegetation led to soil erosion and a decline in the overall health of the ecosystem. Additionally, the absence of wolves also impacted the population of smaller animals that rely on the vegetation or are part of the wolves' food chain.
However, it is important to note that the disappearance of wolves did not solely cause the increase in bear populations or the decline of willow tree populations. These factors can be influenced by various ecological dynamics and are not solely determined by the presence or absence of wolves.