If an ecosystem has two or more food sources for a predator, then the ecosystem might be able to be resilient if one of those food sources disappears. For example, if both elk and bison are available for wolves to eat, then the ecosystem may be able to be resilient if the bison are overhunted and die. There may be enough elk for the wolves to still have food.
This concept is known as ecological redundancy, where multiple species within an ecosystem fulfill similar ecological roles. This redundancy helps to ensure that if one species declines or disappears, other species can potentially fill that role and maintain the overall stability of the ecosystem.
Having multiple food sources for a predator can also provide a buffer against fluctuations in population sizes or environmental changes. For example, if one prey species experiences a population decline due to factors such as disease or habitat loss, predators can switch their focus to other available prey species without facing starvation.
Overall, having multiple food sources for predators can help contribute to the resilience and stability of an ecosystem by providing a safety net in case one food source becomes scarce or disappears. This highlights the interconnectedness and complexity of ecological relationships within an ecosystem.
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Ecological redundancy, where an ecosystem has multiple food sources for a predator, can increase resilience by providing alternative options if one food source disappears. This redundancy helps maintain stability and balance within the ecosystem.
Beavers, large members of the rodent family in North America, are often referred to as “ecosystem/keystone engineers” by wildlife managers. Ecosystem engineers are described as animals that create, alter, or destroy a habitat. Beavers contribute to river ecosystems by bringing down old and dead trees along riverbanks. They use these trees to make their dams. Although these dams are primarily used for protection and food storage, scientists report that these dams change the surrounding environment in different ways.
Given this information, in three to five sentences, describe a potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem as keystone engineers and describe a plausible impact that the removal of beavers could have on the surrounding ecosystem.