What happens to an ecosystem when the primary consumers disappear?
The producer population decreases, while the secondary consumer population increases.
Both the producer and the secondary consumer populations increase.
Both the producer and secondary consumer decrease.
The producer population increases, while the secondary consumer population decreases.
The correct answer is: The producer population increases, while the secondary consumer population decreases.
Primary consumers are herbivores that feed on producers (plants). If they were to disappear from an ecosystem, the producer population (plants) would likely increase because there would be fewer herbivores feeding on them. At the same time, the secondary consumer population (carnivores or omnivores that feed on primary consumers) would decrease since there would be fewer primary consumers available for them to prey upon.