A researcher is studying three aquatic ecosystems in South Carolina. The fish species found in each ecosystem are shown below.
Ecosystem A Ecosystem B Ecosystem C
White Bass ✓
Carp ✓ ✓
Bluegill ✓ ✓
Brown Trout ✓ ✓
Flathead Catfish ✓ ✓
Black Crappie ✓
American Shad ✓
Rainbow Trout ✓ ✓
Striped Bass ✓ ✓
Yellow Perch ✓
The researcher determines that all three ecosystems contain roughly the same total number of fish. Which ecosystem would be most stable during the outbreak of a disease that affects fish?
A.
Ecosystem A
B.
Ecosystem B
C.
Ecosystem C
D.
All three ecosystems are equally stable.
D. All three ecosystems are equally stable.
Since all three ecosystems contain roughly the same total number of fish species, they would all be equally stable during an outbreak of a disease that affects fish. Each ecosystem has a diverse range of fish species which can help maintain balance and resilience in the ecosystem.