Question

which of the following increases the sustainability of an ecosystem?
○a. increased external stimuli
○b. decreased heredity
○c. increased biodiversity
○d. decreased internal stimuli

Explanation:

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem.
• A more biodiverse ecosystem has more species, which means there are more complex food webs and interactions.
• If one species is affected (e.g., by a disease or environmental change), other species can often fill its ecological role. For example, if a particular plant species is reduced, another plant that herbivores can eat may still be available.
• Increased external stimuli (Option A) can be disruptive. For example, a sudden influx of a pollutant (an external stimulus) can harm an ecosystem.
• Decreased heredity (Option B) would lead to less genetic variation within species, making them more vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes.
• Decreased internal stimuli (Option D) doesn't have a positive impact on ecosystem stability. Internal stimuli could be things like normal population - regulating mechanisms (e.g., predation - prey interactions which are internal to the ecosystem). A decrease in these could lead to imbalances.

Answer:

C. increased biodiversity