Question

if a species of plant makes up 95% of the total number of organisms in an ecosystem, what is the best explanation for why the ecosystem has low stability (resilience)? there are too many trophic levels in the food web. the biodiversity is too high, leading to competition. the ecosystem has a high species richness. the ecosystem has low biodiversity. if the single dominant species is lost, the entire system is highly vulnerable to collapse.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• The first option about too many trophic levels is incorrect because a dominant plant species doesn't relate to trophic level count affecting stability here.
• The second option is wrong as 95% of one species means low biodiversity, not high, and high biodiversity generally increases stability, not cause competition - related low stability in this context.
• The third option is incorrect because high species richness means many different species, but here one species is dominant, so species richness is low.
• The fourth option is correct: When one species makes up 95% of organisms, biodiversity is low. If that dominant species is lost, the ecosystem lacks other species to fill its role, making it vulnerable to collapse, which explains low stability.

Answer:

The ecosystem has low biodiversity. If the single dominant species is lost, the entire system is highly vulnerable to collapse.