Question

You notice a new, beautiful aquatic plant growing in a local lake. This species has not been seen in the lake before. After doing some research, you believe the plant is a water hyacinth. These plants are not native to the lake and tend to grow in large quantities on the surface of the water. The plants grow and form dense areas of plant material, which blocks sunlight from passing through the plants.

Predict the effects of the introduced species on the community structure of the lake ecosystem.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

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Answer 2

Sample Response: The structure of the lake ecosystem will likely become less diverse due to the introduction of the water hyacinth. Because the plants do not have any natural predators, they will grow in large quantities. These dense areas of growth will outcompete water plants that grow underneath the surface, causing them to die. Light would be blocked from reaching plants underneath the water hyacinth, decreasing native plants and algae below the surface. This could also have negative effects on the herbivores that feed on the native water plants, as they will not have as much food.