Final answer:
In a simple food chain, if the secondary consumer is wiped out due to a disease, it would have a domino effect on the rest of the food chain. The primary consumer population may increase, but the absence of the secondary consumer would also impact the tertiary consumer. This disruption can lead to the collapse of the entire food chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the secondary consumer in a food chain is wiped out due to a disease, it would have a significant impact on the rest of the food chain. The primary consumer population would likely increase as there would be fewer predators to feed on them. However, the absence of the secondary consumer would not only affect the primary consumer but also cascade up the food chain. The tertiary consumer, which feeds on the secondary consumer, would suffer from a lack of food, leading to a decrease in their population as well.
This domino effect can disrupt the entire food chain, ultimately leading to a collapse. The removal of one species can have far-reaching consequences and disrupt the balance and stability of the ecosystem. It highlights the interconnectedness and dependence of each trophic level in a food chain.
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