What happens to an ecosystem when the primary consumers disappear?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The producer population decreases, while the secondary consumer population increases.
The producer population decreases, while the secondary consumer population increases.

Both the producer and secondary consumer populations decrease.
Both the producer and secondary consumer populations decrease.

The producer population increases, while the secondary consumer population decreases.
The producer population increases, while the secondary consumer population decreases.

Both the producer and secondary consumer populations increase.

Answer 1

When primary consumers (herbivores) disappear from an ecosystem, the immediate effect is typically that the population of producers (plants) increases, as there are no primary consumers to eat them. This can lead to an abundance of vegetation. However, the secondary consumers (carnivores) that rely on primary consumers for food will likely decrease in population due to the lack of available food sources.

Therefore, the most accurate response is:

The producer population increases, while the secondary consumer population decreases.