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 ponits)

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

One possible response to the disappearance of the bison in the ecosystem could be an increase in the elk population. With the bison no longer competing for resources, such as grasses and plants, the elk may experience a population boom as they have more resources available to them. This increase in elk could have cascading effects on other aspects of the ecosystem, such as changes in vegetation due to increased grazing pressure, and changes in predator-prey dynamics as the wolves may have more prey available to them.

This response relates to both resiliency and biodiversity in the ecosystem. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand and recover from changes or disturbances. In this case, the ecosystem demonstrates resiliency by adjusting to the loss of the bison and maintaining its functions through the increased elk population. However, the increase in elk could also disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, leading to potential negative effects on biodiversity.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of different species within an ecosystem and the interactions between them. The disappearance of the bison could result in a decrease in biodiversity if the elk population becomes dominant and outcompetes other species for resources. This could lead to a loss of species diversity and disrupt the overall balance of the ecosystem. Maintaining a diverse range of species within an ecosystem is important for its long-term health and stability.

Answer 2

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 to five 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

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

As keystone engineers, beavers provide a potential benefit to the ecosystem by creating diverse habitats that support a variety of plant and animal species. The dams that beavers build create wetland areas that help regulate water flow, improve water quality, and provide essential habitat for fish, amphibians, and waterfowl. Additionally, the flooded areas created by beaver dams can help increase biodiversity by creating new niches for species to thrive in.

If beavers were to be removed from the ecosystem, the surrounding environment could experience negative impacts. Without beavers actively maintaining their dams and wetland habitats, water flow may become unregulated, leading to increased erosion and sedimentation in rivers and streams. The loss of beaver dams could also result in a decrease in overall biodiversity as certain species that rely on the unique habitats created by beavers may struggle to survive. Ultimately, the removal of beavers could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and have cascading effects on the surrounding environment.

Answer 4

Some students are trying to convince their parents to let them raise backyard chickens. They want to present a logical argument on how raising your own chickens reduces food waste. In three to five sentences, construct an argument for how raising livestock yourself can help you reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.

Answer 5

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

Raising backyard chickens can help reduce food waste by utilizing kitchen scraps and leftovers as feed for the chickens. Instead of throwing out food scraps, such as vegetable peels and leftovers, these can be repurposed as nutritious food for the chickens. Additionally, the chickens produce manure, which can be composted and used as fertilizer for gardens, closing the loop on waste by recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. By raising their own chickens, families can actively participate in reducing food waste, reusing resources, and recycling organic matter in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.