Final answer:
Removal of the snake from a food web increases prey abundance and may decrease scavengers' food sources, causing ecological imbalances. Different organisms have unique effects when removed from a food web, as seen in ecosystem studies like coral reefs. Polar bears hunting on land due to loss of sea ice disrupt the balance of terrestrial food webs.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a snake, which is a predator in a food web, were removed, the abundance of organisms that the snakes prey on would likely increase, as there would be fewer natural predators to control their population. Conversely, the abundance of the organisms that the snakes help to provide food for (for example, scavengers that may feed on the remains of what snakes have eaten) could decrease, as there would be less available food for them.
These changes in the abundance of organisms could lead to imbalances in the food web, affecting the distribution of matter and energy throughout the ecosystem.
Especially in an aquatic or terrestrial ecosystem, removing one organism, such as a coral reef inhabitant, would lead to shifts in the ecological balance, as other organism's dependent on it for food, shelter, or maintenance of the environment could suffer or thrive unpredictably. Reintroducing or removing a different organism would lead to a different set of repercussions, highlighting the complex interdependencies within the food web.
If polar bears are forced to hunt on land due to the loss of sea ice, the balance of the food web on land may be disrupted. The native prey, not adapted to predation by polar bears, could face increased pressure, and the bears may find it challenging to sustain themselves without their traditional, ice-dependent prey. This shift could precipitate a series of trophic cascades throughout the terrestrial food web.