Question

table 1. san joaquin kit fox characteristics
preferred habitat: deserts, open grasslands, prairies, scrub lands
size: about the size of a house cat
diet: small rodents, lizards, birds, insects
behavior: hunts at night; digs in soft soil to make underground dens
reproduction: two to six pups each year
predators: red foxes, coyotes, bobcats, raptors
other threats: habitat loss from human encroachment; use of pesticides and poisons
in the 1800s, the san joaquin valley of california was mostly open grassland and marshes with few sparsely wooded areas. today, humans have changed much of the central valley for agricultural and urban use. figure 1 shows the results of a study about how a portion of fresno county in the central valley changed over time.
part b
which statement best explains why biodiversity is important for all life on earth?
a high biodiversity changes an ecosystem by reducing the survival rate of all but the individuals best suited to an area.
b low biodiversity results in stable ecosystems by increasing competition for resources among individuals.
c low biodiversity prevents the loss of species by increasing the types of organisms that can live in one area.
d high biodiversity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by reducing the rate at which species become extinct.

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: High biodiversity does not reduce survival rates of well - suited individuals; in fact, it can support more species. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: Low biodiversity actually makes ecosystems less stable as there are fewer species to support the ecosystem. And low biodiversity would decrease competition (since there are fewer species), not increase it. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: Low biodiversity means fewer types of organisms, which does not prevent species loss. In fact, low biodiversity makes an ecosystem more vulnerable to species loss. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: High biodiversity means there are more species. This variety helps in stabilizing the ecosystem. For example, if one species is affected by a disturbance, other species can take over its ecological role, reducing the rate at which species go extinct. This is a key concept in ecology related to ecosystem stability and biodiversity.

Answer:

D. High biodiversity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by reducing the rate at which species become extinct.