Plants, bison, elk, and wolves are all members of an ecosystem. The bison and elk are both primary consumers in this ecosystem, while the wolves are a predator. Over time, the bison completely disappear. Give an example of how the ecosystem may respond to this change, and explain how this relates to both resiliency and biodiversity. please this is confusing for me
If bison completely disappeared from the ecosystem, the population of primary consumers would decline drastically. This could lead to a decrease in the population of predators that rely on bison for food, such as the wolves, due to the competition for limited resources. The reduction in the number of predators could then lead to an increase in the population of other herbivorous animals that remain in the ecosystem, such as deer or rabbits, since there are fewer predators to prey on them.
This change in the ecosystem highlights the importance of both resiliency and biodiversity. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to adapt and recover from disturbances or changes. In this case, the elimination of bison could lead to a disturbance in the ecosystem, but the presence of other herbivorous animals could allow the ecosystem to maintain some level of resiliency.
Biodiversity, on the other hand, refers to the variety of different species present in an ecosystem, and a loss of biodiversity can make the ecosystem less resilient to disturbances. Losing bison, which are an integral part of the food chain as primary consumers, can have a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem. This is why maintaining biodiversity is important to protect the future of ecosystems.
When the bison completely disappear from the ecosystem, it would cause significant changes in the ecosystem. Let's consider an example of how the ecosystem may respond:
1. Decrease in primary consumers: With the absence of bison, the population of primary consumers, in this case, the elk, would increase as they no longer have competition for resources. Their increased numbers could put pressure on the available plant resources.
2. Vegetation changes: The increased population of elk, as a result of bison disappearance, could lead to overgrazing. Overgrazing occurs when the elk consume the available plant resources faster than they can regenerate. This could result in the depletion of certain plant species and changes in the composition of vegetation in the ecosystem.
3. Cascade effect on the ecosystem: The changes in vegetation can have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem. For example, the reduction in certain plant species could impact the availability of food and habitat for other species, such as insects or birds, which depend on specific plant species to survive.
Relating this to resiliency and biodiversity:
1. Resiliency: Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand or recover from disturbances. In this scenario, if the ecosystem has high resiliency, it would demonstrate the capacity to rebound from the loss of the bison. For example, if the ecosystem has other primary consumers or alternative prey for the predators (wolves), it will be more resilient and able to adapt to changes. On the other hand, if the ecosystem lacks such resilience, it may struggle to adjust and recover from the loss, leading to imbalances or a decline in overall ecosystem health.
2. Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of different species within an ecosystem. The disappearance of the bison can impact biodiversity in multiple ways. Firstly, it reduces the overall species richness within the ecosystem since one species is lost. Secondly, it may disrupt the interactions and relationships between species, such as the predator-prey relationship between wolves and bison. This disruption can have cascading effects on other organisms in the ecosystem, potentially reducing overall biodiversity.
In conclusion, the disappearance of the bison from the ecosystem can cause changes in population dynamics, vegetation composition, and have ripple effects on other species. Resiliency determines how well the ecosystem can adapt to this change, while biodiversity is impacted by the loss of a species and disrupted interactions between organisms.