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. In 2-3 sentences give an example of how the ecosystem may respond to this change, and explain how this relates to both resiliency and biodiversity.
1 answer
Without the bison, the elk population may increase as their main competitor is no longer present. This increase in elk may lead to overgrazing of plant species, impacting the availability of resources for other animals in the ecosystem. This change may test the resiliency of the ecosystem as it adjusts to the loss of a key species, and may also decrease biodiversity as the bison, a unique species, is no longer part of the ecosystem.