Question
Farmers grow palm oil trees in the Indonesian rainforest, which has had an impact on the Orangutan population. Large areas of rainforest native to this ecosystem are being cut down to make room for palm oil plantations. Orangutans eat the insects, flowers and fruit such as durians, mangos and figs from native trees found in the rainforest. The native trees also provide shelter. Orangutans use sticks as tools and tree holes and leaves provide water necessary for survival.
The claim is made that changes to one plant in an ecosystem can have a negative impact on the survival of other species native to that ecosystem.
Which of the following statements BEST supports the claim?
A.
Orangutans may not have native trees available, but they will adapt to eating palm oil plants.
B.
Orangutans need a lot of space, but they will adapt to finding shelter and food in the space they still have available to them.
C.
Orangutans will search for another part of the rainforest, which isn't being used for farming, to find adequate food and shelter.
D.
Orangutans eat fruit which contains seeds from native trees and then disperse them in their waste. Fewer trees provide less fruit for orangutans; therefore, fewer seeds to disperse.
The claim is made that changes to one plant in an ecosystem can have a negative impact on the survival of other species native to that ecosystem.
Which of the following statements BEST supports the claim?
A.
Orangutans may not have native trees available, but they will adapt to eating palm oil plants.
B.
Orangutans need a lot of space, but they will adapt to finding shelter and food in the space they still have available to them.
C.
Orangutans will search for another part of the rainforest, which isn't being used for farming, to find adequate food and shelter.
D.
Orangutans eat fruit which contains seeds from native trees and then disperse them in their waste. Fewer trees provide less fruit for orangutans; therefore, fewer seeds to disperse.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The statement that BEST supports the claim that changes to one plant in an ecosystem can have a negative impact on the survival of other species native to that ecosystem is:
**D. Orangutans eat fruit which contains seeds from native trees and then disperse them in their waste. Fewer trees provide less fruit for orangutans; therefore, fewer seeds to disperse.**
This statement highlights the interdependence between orangutans and native trees, emphasizing how the reduction of native trees due to palm oil plantations directly affects the availability of food for orangutans and, consequently, the regeneration of those trees through seed dispersal. This illustrates the negative impact on the ecosystem as a whole.
**D. Orangutans eat fruit which contains seeds from native trees and then disperse them in their waste. Fewer trees provide less fruit for orangutans; therefore, fewer seeds to disperse.**
This statement highlights the interdependence between orangutans and native trees, emphasizing how the reduction of native trees due to palm oil plantations directly affects the availability of food for orangutans and, consequently, the regeneration of those trees through seed dispersal. This illustrates the negative impact on the ecosystem as a whole.