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)
Without bison in the ecosystem, the elk population may increase rapidly due to a decrease in competition for resources. As a result, the increased grazing pressure from the elk may lead to overgrazing of the vegetation in the ecosystem, impacting the plant population. This can then have a cascade effect on other species that rely on those plants for food or shelter.
This example relates to both resiliency and biodiversity in the ecosystem. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand and recover from changes or disturbances. In this case, the ecosystem may struggle to adapt to the sudden disappearance of bison, leading to imbalances in the population dynamics of other species.
Biodiversity refers to the variety and abundance of different species within an ecosystem. The loss of bison in this scenario reduces the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem, as there is one less species present. This can have negative impacts on the stability and functioning of the ecosystem, as each species plays a specific role in maintaining balance.
Overall, the disappearance of bison can disrupt the resilience and biodiversity of the ecosystem, highlighting the interconnectedness of species and the importance of maintaining a healthy and diverse ecosystem.