Plants bison walk and wolves are all members of an ecosystem. The bison and elk are both primary consumers in this ecosystem, while 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
With the disappearance of the bison in the ecosystem, the population of elk may increase as they no longer have a competing herbivore for resources. This increase in elk population could lead to overgrazing of the vegetation, causing a decrease in available food for other herbivores in the ecosystem. This could result in a decline in the population of other herbivores, which in turn could affect the populations of their predators, such as wolves.
This example demonstrates the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem and the importance of maintaining biodiversity. In a resilient ecosystem, there is a diversity of species that can help buffer against environmental changes or disturbances. In this case, the disappearance of the bison has disrupted the balance of the ecosystem and has highlighted the importance of maintaining biodiversity to ensure the health and stability of the ecosystem. Without biodiversity, the ecosystem may struggle to recover from the loss of a key species like the bison.