Question

describe four ecosystem impacts: erosion, sediment & pollutant transport, increased & particulates, carbon monoxide. predict how this impact would be seen in your food web: tertiary consumers-, secondary consumers-, primary consumers-, producers-. vocabulary: define the following terms: food chain-, food web-, keystone species-, resilience-. you also investigated disturbances during lesson 5 when you figured wildebeest population (figure 1). make a prediction to answer the fo

Explanation:

• Food chain: A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. For example, grass - rabbit - fox.
• Food web: A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. It shows the multiple feeding relationships among different organisms.
• Keystone species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. Its removal can cause major changes in the ecosystem structure and function.
• Resilience: The ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance, such as a fire, flood, or pest outbreak.

For the ecosystem impacts:

• Erosion: Can lead to loss of soil and habitat for producers. In the food web, producers may decline, affecting primary consumers that rely on them, which in turn affects secondary and tertiary consumers.
• Sediment & Pollutant Transport: Sediments can smother aquatic producers and pollutants can accumulate in organisms through the food chain (bio - magnification). This can harm all levels of consumers, especially higher - level consumers that accumulate more pollutants.
• Increased Particulates: Can reduce light availability for producers, decreasing photosynthesis. This impacts the entire food web as energy input from producers is reduced.
• Carbon Monoxide: A toxic gas. Can directly harm animals and also affect plants indirectly by changing the air quality, thus impacting the food web.

Answer:

• Food chain: A linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy transfer through consumption.
• Food web: A network of interconnected food chains showing multiple feeding relationships.
• Keystone species: A species with a large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.
• Resilience: The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.
• Tertiary Consumers: May face reduced food availability due to impacts on lower - level consumers, or accumulate more pollutants.
• Secondary Consumers: Can be affected by reduced primary consumer populations or by pollutants.
• Primary Consumers: May have less food due to impacts on producers or be directly affected by pollutants.
• Producers: Can be damaged by erosion, sedimentation, reduced light from particulates, and air quality changes from carbon monoxide.