Question

A community of wolves and red squirrels lives in a coniferous-forest ecosystem in the United Kingdom. This forest ecosystem is made up of a variety of trees that have needles or cones rather than leaves. Other species of animals and plants also inhabit the same area. Wolves are the natural predator of the red squirrels in the area. Red squirrels eat a variety of tree seeds. Write a scientific explanation regarding how the mammal biodiversity of the forest would change if new species of squirrel, i.e., the gray squirrel, were introduced to the ecosystem.

Answer 1

If gray squirrels are introduced to the forest ecosystem, it could lead to a decline in red squirrel population and a decrease in mammal biodiversity. The competition for resources between the two squirrel species may favor the gray squirrels, causing a disruption in the balance of the ecosystem.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the new species of squirrel, the gray squirrel, were introduced to the ecosystem, it would likely result in changes to the mammal biodiversity of the forest. Gray squirrels are known to be more efficient at foraging for nuts than red squirrels, which could lead to a decline in the population of red squirrels. As a result, the overall mammal biodiversity in the forest may decrease.

Competition for resources, such as tree seeds, would increase between red squirrels and gray squirrels. Gray squirrels may outcompete red squirrels for these resources, leading to a decrease in the population of red squirrels. This could have cascading effects on the other species that rely on red squirrels as a food source.

Overall, the introduction of the gray squirrel could disrupt the balance of the forest ecosystem, potentially leading to a decrease in mammal biodiversity.