Wolves in Yellowstone

Question

Wolves in Yellowstone

The following excerpt describes the reintroduction program of the grey wolf back into Yellowstone.

Consider the ecosystem described above. In this ecosystem, elk enjoy eating the leaves of cottonwood trees.

1. Which of the following represents a food chain with arrows that properly show energy flow?

(Look carefully at the arrows. They are important.)

(1 point)
Responses

Cottonwood > Elk > Wolf
Cottonwood > Elk > Wolf

Elk > Cottonwood < Wolf
Elk > Cottonwood < Wolf

Cottonwood > Elk < Wolf
Cottonwood > Elk < Wolf

Wolf > Cottonwood > Elk
Wolf > Cottonwood > Elk
Question 2
The following graph represents the relative populations of the wolves, elk, and cottonwood trees in the ecosystem described above.

2. How did the reintroduction of the grey wolf, a carnivore, affect the population of the cottonwood trees, a type of producer?

(1 point)
Responses

The cottonwood tree population did not change.
The cottonwood tree population did not change.

The cottonwood tree population increased and then stabilized.
The cottonwood tree population increased and then stabilized.

The cottonwood tree population increased and then decreased back to zero.
The cottonwood tree population increased and then decreased back to zero.

The cottonwood tree population decreased and then stabilized.
The cottonwood tree population decreased and then stabilized.
Question 3
3. Use the drop down menus to complete the paragraph describing the events related to the reintroduction of the grey wolves into Yellowstone National Park.(6 points)
Before people understood their importance in the ecosystem, the
was hunted almost to extinction. Because of this, the
population grew much too large. They overgrazed and caused significant reduction in the population of
. When the grey wolf was reintroduced, they began to naturally
the population of elk. This allowed the cottonwood tree population to
. After several years of adjustment, all three populations
and showed healthy oscillation in the ecosystem.

1 answer

Question 1

The correct representation of a food chain with arrows that properly show energy flow is:

Cottonwood > Elk > Wolf

Question 2

The effect of the reintroduction of the grey wolf on the population of the cottonwood trees, a type of producer, was:

The cottonwood tree population increased and then stabilized.

Question 3

To complete the paragraph:

Before people understood their importance in the ecosystem, the grey wolf was hunted almost to extinction. Because of this, the elk population grew much too large. They overgrazed and caused significant reduction in the population of cottonwood trees. When the grey wolf was reintroduced, they began to naturally control the population of elk. This allowed the cottonwood tree population to increase. After several years of adjustment, all three populations stabilized and showed healthy oscillation in the ecosystem.

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GPT-4o mini · Answer

### Question 1 1. The correct representation of a food chain with arrows that properly show energy flow is: **Cottonwood > Elk > Wolf** ### Question 2 2. The effect of the reintroduction of the grey wolf on the population of the cottonwood trees, a type of producer, was: **The cottonwood tree population increased and then stabilized.** ### Question 3 3. To complete the paragraph: Before people understood their importance in the ecosystem, the **grey wolf** was hunted almost to extinction. Because of this, the **elk** population grew much too large. They overgrazed and caused significant reduction in the population of **cottonwood trees**. When the grey wolf was reintroduced, they began to naturally **control** the population of elk. This allowed the cottonwood tree population to **increase**. After several years of adjustment, all three populations **stabilized** and showed healthy oscillation in the ecosystem.