Question

6. Answer the following analysis questions regarding the food webs for your ecosystem: a. If a great number of producers within the ecosystem died, how would this affect the numbers of the other organisms within the ecosystem? b. If all but a few tertiary consumers within the ecosystem died, how would this affect the numbers of the other organisms within the ecosystem?c. If many new plants and trees are introduced into the ecosystem, how will this affect the numbers of the other organisms within the ecosystem? d. If half of the primary consumers have a disease and die, how will this affect the numbers of the other organisms within the ecosystem?The chosen ecosystem: pondsPonds are a type of freshwater ecosystem that has shallow and slow-moving water (is lentic), and, because it's shallow, light can reach the bottom of it.Some organisms that we can find living in a pond are the following:Water liliesFrogsTurtlesFishGeeseDragonfliesAlgaeCyanobacteriaDucksWater snailDuck potatoEarthwormsMosquitosPond skaterNewtsMosquito fern/fairy mossDuckweedsWatersnakeSalamandersWater beetleProducers include water lilies and duck potato. Consumers include ducks, frogs, pond skaters, water beetles, water snails, fish, water beetles, water scorpion, dragonflies, mosquito, duckling, leech, newt, and tadpole.

Answer 1

We know that producers are those kinds of organisms that use the sunlight to grow, like plants, algae, and phytoplankton. At the same time these organisms increase their biomass, other organisms can feed up on them. Considering the A part of the question, if a great number of producers (like water lilies and duck potatoes) within the ecosystem dies, the number of other organisms within the ecosystem would decrease, since they wouldn't find any more resources for their survival, such as nutrients. Considering the B part of the question, if all but a few tertiary consumers within the ecosystem dies, the number of other organisms in the ecosystem would increase, especially the ones which they feed on, such as primary and secondary consumers. Considering the C part of the question, if many new plants and trees are introduced into the ecosystem, probably the number of the other organisms would increase, since they would use those new resources to do their activities, such as feeding and finding a couple. And considering the D part of the question, if half of the primary consumers have a disease and die, the number of primary producers would increase, due to the not-consumed resources, and the secondary and tertiary consumers would decrease in number, due to the unavailability of their preys.