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 in 3 sentences
1 answer
In response to the disappearance of bison, the elk population may increase as they no longer have competition for resources. This could lead to overgrazing of plants in the ecosystem, impacting the availability of food for other animals and potentially disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. This change highlights the importance of biodiversity in maintaining a resilient ecosystem, as the loss of one species can have cascading effects on others.