Without the bison, the elk population may increase as there is less competition for resources. As the elk population increases, they may overgraze the plants, leading to a decrease in plant population and diversity. This could impact the entire ecosystem, as many other animals rely on the plants as a food source. Additionally, the absence of the bison could also affect the predators, such as the wolves, who may struggle to find enough prey to sustain themselves.
This example highlights the importance of biodiversity and the interconnections within an ecosystem. The loss of one species can have cascading effects on the rest of the ecosystem. Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to adapt and recover from disturbances or changes. In this example, the ecosystem may become less resilient as it loses biodiversity and the ability to adapt to changing conditions without the bison.
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)
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5 answers
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 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.
(4 points)
Given this information, in three 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.
(4 points)
Beavers as keystone engineers provide a range of benefits to the ecosystem. One key benefit is that their dams create wetlands, which in turn, support diverse plant and animal communities. Removal of beavers from the ecosystem could ultimately result in the loss of these wetland habitats and the associated species that rely on them, leading to a decline in ecosystem health.
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 sentences, construct an argument for how raising livestock yourself can help you reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.(4 points)
Raising backyard chickens can help reduce food waste in multiple ways. For example, chickens can consume kitchen scraps, such as fruit and vegetable trimmings, which would otherwise be thrown away. Additionally, in backyard settings, chicken waste can be composted and used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for home gardens, thus promoting a closed-loop system that reduces waste and supports sustainability.