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 in 3 sentences of how the ecosystem may respond to this change, and explain how this relates to both resiliency and biodiversity. (4 points)
Without the presence of bison, the elk population may increase due to less competition for resources. This could lead to overgrazing of the plant population, causing a decrease in plant diversity and affecting the entire ecosystem. This change demonstrates how the loss of one species can disrupt the balance of an ecosystem, highlighting the importance of biodiversity and resiliency in maintaining a healthy and stable environment.
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)