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. (4 points)
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Without the bison, the elk population may increase as there is less competition for resources. As the elk population increases, they may overgraze the plants, leading to a decrease in plant population and diversity. This could impact the entire ecosystem, as many other animals rely on the plants as a food source. Additionally, the absence of the bison could also affect the predators, such as the wolves, who may struggle to find enough prey to sustain themselves.
This example highlights the importance of biodiversity and the interconnections within an ecosystem. The loss of one species can have cascading effects on the rest of the ecosystem. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to adapt and recover from disturbances or changes. In this example, the ecosystem may become less resilient as it loses biodiversity and the ability to adapt to changing conditions without the bison.
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 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.
(4 points)
Beavers as keystone engineers provide a range of benefits to the ecosystem. One key benefit is that their dams create wetlands, which in turn, support diverse plant and animal communities. Removal of beavers from the ecosystem could ultimately result in the loss of these wetland habitats and the associated species that rely on them, leading to a decline in ecosystem health.
Some students are trying to convince their parents to let them raise backyard chickens. They want to present a logical argument on how raising your own chickens reduces food waste. In three sentences, construct an argument for how raising livestock yourself can help you reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.(4 points)
Raising backyard chickens can help reduce food waste in multiple ways. For example, chickens can consume kitchen scraps, such as fruit and vegetable trimmings, which would otherwise be thrown away. Additionally, in backyard settings, chicken waste can be composted and used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for home gardens, thus promoting a closed-loop system that reduces waste and supports sustainability.
When the bison completely disappear from the ecosystem, it can have several impacts on the ecosystem's response, namely:
1. Decreased biodiversity: The ecosystem’s biodiversity is likely to decrease as a result of the loss of an entire species. The bison played a crucial role in the ecosystem as a herbivore, and their absence can lead to a reduction in species diversity.
2. Disruption of trophic levels: As primary consumers, the bison had a direct impact on the plant population by consuming vegetation. Without their presence, the population of plants may increase due to reduced herbivory. This may lead to overgrazing, crowding out other plant species, affecting their survival and overall biodiversity as well.
3. Ecological changes: With bison's disappearance, the primary consumers' role in the ecosystem will be disturbed. The absence of grazing pressure can cause changes in plant species composition, potentially favoring certain plants over others. This can result in cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, impacting other organisms that relied on those plants for food or habitat.
4. Loss of resiliency: The loss of the bison from the ecosystem can reduce its resiliency, or its ability to bounce back from disturbances. Biodiversity is closely linked to ecosystem resilience, as a diverse ecosystem tends to be more adaptable and resistant to changes. Without the bison, the ecosystem may become more vulnerable to future disturbances, as it loses its ability to respond and recover effectively.
In summary, the disappearance of the bison from the ecosystem can lead to a decrease in biodiversity, disrupt trophic levels, cause ecological changes, and reduce the ecosystem's resiliency.
When the bison completely disappear from the ecosystem, it can lead to various changes and impacts on the ecosystem. One potential example of how the ecosystem may respond to this change is an increase in vegetation growth due to reduced herbivory pressure. With the absence of bison as primary consumers, plants may experience less grazing and browsing, allowing them to flourish and possibly dominate the ecosystem.
This response relates to both resiliency and biodiversity. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to bounce back or recover from disturbances or changes. In this case, the ecosystem demonstrates resilience as it adapts to the loss of bison by compensating through increased plant growth. The ecosystem is able to maintain its overall structure and function by shifting the balance of energy flow.
Regarding biodiversity, the loss of bison can have both positive and negative implications. On one hand, the absence of bison may free up resources, resulting in increased biodiversity of plant species as different plants now have a chance to grow and establish themselves. This can enhance the variety of species within the ecosystem.
On the other hand, the loss of bison also means a reduction in species diversity since the bison itself is no longer a part of the ecosystem. This reduction in species diversity can have cascading effects on the rest of the ecosystem. For example, the wolves, as predators, may face challenges in finding alternative prey, potentially impacting their populations and overall trophic interactions.
Therefore, the response of the ecosystem to the disappearance of bison highlights the complex relationship between resiliency and biodiversity. While the ecosystem demonstrates resilience by adapting to the loss of a keystone species, it also experiences a change in species diversity, which can have both positive and negative consequences.