Question

do you think the populations in the system will return to their pre - disturbance sizes? use evidence to support your prediction. the serengeti is a biodiverse ecosystem, home to over 70 large mammals and 500 bird species. there are 314 plant species and hundreds of insects and other small organisms. our models include a very small sample of the organisms that are part of the system. it would be impossible for scientists to count every single organism in the serengeti system. they use a diversity index that helps them understand the relationship between the number of species and their estimated population size. a group of scientists estimated the diversity index for herbivores in the southern part of the serengeti in the short - grass plains for more than 20 years. their findings are shown below.

Explanation:

If the ecosystem has high resilience, like sufficient food - resources, stable climate, and intact predator - prey relationships, populations may return. For example, if herbivore populations were reduced by a disturbance, but plant resources remain abundant, herbivore populations may recover. However, if the disturbance is severe, such as a major habitat loss or the introduction of a new invasive species, populations may not return to pre - disturbance sizes. Evidence could include long - term data on population trends, changes in habitat quality, and the presence of new threats.

Answer:

It depends on the nature and severity of the disturbance and the resilience of the ecosystem. If the ecosystem has high resilience and the disturbance is not severe, populations may return. If the disturbance is severe (e.g., major habitat loss), populations may not return.