Final answer:
To assess the impact of indiscriminate hunting on an ecosystem, consider predator populations, effects on vegetation, soil nutrient availability, and pest numbers. Significant alterations suggest unsustainable practices that should be discouraged.
Step-by-step explanation:
When determining the impact of indiscriminate hunting of a certain species on the local ecosystem, several factors must be considered to assess the changes in environmental conditions.
The impact on the local ecosystem can be determined by analyzing the population density of predators, the effect on plants they feed on, the availability of nutrients in the soil, and the number of pests. A drastic change in these conditions could indicate that hunting practices are unsustainable and may lead to recommendations that such practices should be discouraged.
Moreover, sustainable harvest numbers, such as the over 700,000 white-tailed deer taken annually in some regions, should be contrasted with other areas where the ecosystem cannot sustain high levels of hunting without risking species decline or local extinction.