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) short very short

Answer 1

With the disappearance of bison, the elk population may increase due to reduced competition for resources. This overpopulation can lead to overgrazing, negatively affecting plant diversity and stability in the ecosystem. As a result, wolves might face food shortages and could decline in numbers as well.

This scenario illustrates resiliency, as the ecosystem attempts to adjust to the loss of a key species. However, the decline in biodiversity due to the dominance of a single primary consumer (elk) makes the ecosystem less resilient, as it becomes more vulnerable to disturbances and less capable of recovering from changes.