Final answer:
The introduction of pigs to the New World was not beneficial to the ecosystem; their disruptive feeding habits can lead to negative environmental impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of the pig to the New World by European explorers and colonists, like Hernán de Soto and Christopher Columbus, had significant impacts on the ecosystem. While pigs did provide a new food source and were integral to the agricultural practices of early settlers, their introduction is generally considered to have been detrimental to the ecosystem, rather than beneficial. Pigs are not native to the Americas and their feeding habits, which include rooting and wallowing, can lead to soil compaction, disruption of native plant species, and water contamination. This can negatively impact native wildlife and plant communities, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. The statement that the introduction of the pig to the New World was beneficial to the ecosystem is thus false.