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. Write it in kids words

Answer 1

When the bison disappear from the ecosystem, the elk population may start to increase because there are no longer bison competing for food. This could lead to overgrazing of the plants in the ecosystem, which could harm other animals that rely on those plants for food and shelter.

This change shows how important it is to have a variety of different animals in an ecosystem. Biodiversity - or having many different kinds of plants and animals - helps the ecosystem stay healthy and balanced. If one species disappears, it can affect the whole ecosystem. But if there are many different species, the ecosystem is more resilient, which means it can bounce back from changes or threats.

So, it's like having different pieces in a puzzle. If you lose one piece, the puzzle may not look right. But if you have lots of pieces, you can still make a beautiful picture. That's why it's important to protect all the different animals and plants in an ecosystem.