Biodiversity Unit Test
12 of 1412 of 14 Items
Question
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)
One possible response to the disappearance of bison from the ecosystem could be an increase in the elk population. With less competition for resources, such as food and habitat, the elk population may thrive and grow. This increase in elk population could then have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.
This change relates to resiliency in the sense that the ecosystem is able to adapt and adjust to the loss of a key species. In this case, the ecosystem is resilient in that it is able to maintain balance and function even after the disappearance of the bison. However, this change may also have implications for biodiversity. While the ecosystem may still be able to function without bison, the loss of this species could lead to a decrease in overall biodiversity within the ecosystem. This is because biodiversity is a measure of the variety of species present in an ecosystem, and the disappearance of the bison would decrease this variety. Ultimately, the ecosystem may become less diverse and less resilient in the long run without the presence of the bison.