Bot, 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. Please make sure your answer stays on topic.
Without the bison in the ecosystem, the plant population may become overgrown as there are no longer primary consumers to keep it in check. This could lead to habitat destruction for other species, potentially impacting the elk population as they rely on the plants for food. Without enough food, the elk population may decrease, affecting the wolves as they rely on the elk as their prey.
This example demonstrates the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem and the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Biodiversity helps ecosystems maintain their resiliency by ensuring that there are multiple species performing important functions. In this case, the loss of the bison disrupts the balance within the ecosystem, highlighting the fragility of ecosystems and the need to protect biodiversity to ensure their health and long-term stability.