Question

The introduction of the nutria, a large rodent, has destroyed plant populations in many regions. Which two outcomes are likely consequences of this change?

A. An increase in the resiliency of the ecosystem due to an increase in the space available for new plants to sprout

B. A decrease in the resiliency of the ecosystem due to a decrease in plant biodiversity

c. A decrease in native primary consumers that depend on the destroyed plants for food

d. An increase in the biodiversity of the ecosystem due to an increase in the population of the nutria​

Answer 1

The two likely consequences of the introduction of the nutria, a large rodent, that has destroyed plant populations in many regions are:

B. A decrease in the resiliency of the ecosystem due to a decrease in plant biodiversity: Nutria feeds on a variety of plants and can cause a significant reduction in plant diversity in their habitat, which can lead to a decrease in the resiliency of the ecosystem. This is because fewer plant species mean less variety in the ecosystem, making it less able to respond to disturbances and less stable.

C. A decrease in native primary consumers that depend on the destroyed plants for food: The destruction of plant populations due to the introduction of nutria can lead to a decrease in food availability for native primary consumers that depend on these plants for their survival, such as certain species of insects, birds, and mammals. As a result, the populations of these native species may decline, leading to imbalances in the ecosystem.