If the bison completely disappear, the elk population may increase due to reduced competition for resources. However, with an increase in elk, the wolves may also increase in number to prey on the elk. This may create a domino effect, as an increase in wolf population may then cause a decrease in the elk population, and so on.
This response of the ecosystem to the disappearance of bison relates to both resiliency and biodiversity. Resilience refers to the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances or changes. In this case, the ecosystem can still function and adapt despite the loss of bison, due to the presence of other members such as elk and wolves. However, the loss of bison affects biodiversity, as it reduces the number of species present in the ecosystem. This loss of biodiversity may have negative effects on the overall health and stability of the ecosystem in the long run.
ants, bison, elk, and wolves are all members of an ecosystem. The bison and elk are both primary consumers in this
system, while the wolves are a predator. Over time, the bison completely disappear. Give an example of how the
system may respond to this change, and explain how this relates to both resiliency and biodiversity.
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