Question

What is Congongrass?

A. Cogongrass improved the biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystem.
B. Cogongrass will become the dominant plant source, decreasing the biodiversity in the areas where it has started growing.
C. Cogongrass made improvements to the surrounding area by providing food to the primary consumers in the area.
D. Cogongrass is now the native species in the southeastern US and has increased biodiversity.

Answer 1

Cogongrass is an invasive species that decreases biodiversity and ecosystem health, similar to the way gamba grass affects Australian savannas by creating intense fire cycles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cogongrass is considered an invasive plant species which often leads to a decrease in biodiversity in the ecosystems it invades. Unlike diverse native grasses, cogongrass forms a monoculture and can contribute to a feedback loop of intense fires that further damages biodiversity. This process is similar to what is observed with the invasion of gamba grass in northern Australia, which is related to cogongrass and poses a similar threat. In invaded savanna vegetation, gamba grass produces fuel loads that result in extremely intense fires, subsequently reducing tree biomass and simplifying the ecosystem. Therefore, cogongrass negatively impacts ecosystem health by outcompeting native plants, reducing habitats for animals, and altering fire regimes.