Question

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu. A species was added to a particular ecosystem to control the population of a prey species. The method of introducing a predator to control the population of an unwanted species is called biological augmentation. The population of the added species increased, leading to a decrease in several populations of other species in the ecosystem. This decrease happened because?

1) The added species outcompeted other species for resources.
2) The added species preyed on other species in the ecosystem.
3) The added species introduced a disease that affected other species.
4) The added species caused changes in the habitat that were unfavorable for other species.

Answer 1

The decrease in several populations of other species in the ecosystem happened because the added species preyed on them. When a species is introduced to an ecosystem for biological control, it may unintentionally reduce the populations of other species by outcompeting them for resources or preying upon them.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decrease in several populations of other species in the ecosystem happened because of option 2, which is that the added species preyed on other species in the ecosystem. This is a common outcome when a predator is introduced to control the population of a prey species. The added species outcompeting other species for resources (option 1), introducing a disease that affected other species (option 3), or causing changes in the habitat that were unfavorable for other species (option 4) may also have negative impacts, but in this case, predation is the main reason for the decrease in other populations.

When a species is introduced to an ecosystem for biological control, it may unintentionally reduce the populations of other species by outcompeting them for resources or preying upon them.

The correct answer to why the population of the added species increased, leading to a decrease in several populations of other species in the ecosystem, after a species was added to control the population of a prey species through biological control, could be due to several factors. Two likely scenarios are that:

The added species outcompeted other species for resources.

The added species predated on other species in the ecosystem.

While biological augmentation can be effective, it sometimes has unintended consequences when the introduced species affect non-target species, either through competition for resources or predation, potentially leading to decreased biodiversity and ecosystem disruption.