Question

analysis question
which of the following types of species (from the list above) would you think impacts biodiversity the most? * provide 2 reasons to support your answer.

Explanation:

• Invasive species:
• Definition: Non - native species that cause harm.
• Examples: Zebra mussels, cane toads.
• Role in the ecosystem: Compete for resources, disrupt webs.
• Human impact: Introduced (intentionally or accidentally) by humans.
• Indicator species:
• Definition: Species whose presence/absence indicates environmental quality.
• Examples: Lichens (indicate air quality), mayflies (indicate water quality).
• Role in the ecosystem: Signal ecosystem health.
• Human impact: Human - caused environmental changes (pollution, habitat loss) affect their populations.
• Endangered species:
• Definition: Species at risk of extinction.
• Examples: Giant pandas, Amur leopards.
• Role in the ecosystem: Play specific ecological roles (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal).
• Human impact: Habitat destruction, poaching, climate change (human - induced) are major threats.

For the analysis question: Invasive species likely impact biodiversity the most.

• Reason 1: They out - compete native species for resources (e.g., food, space). For example, zebra mussels filter water so efficiently that they can deplete food sources for native fish.
• Reason 2: They can disrupt ecological webs. Cane toads in Australia have no natural predators in their new range and their toxins kill native predators that try to eat them.

Answer:

• Invasive species definition: Non - native species that cause harm.
• Invasive species examples: Zebra mussels, cane toads.
• Invasive species role in the ecosystem: Compete for resources, disrupt webs.
• Invasive species human impact: Introduced (intentionally or accidentally) by humans.
• Indicator species definition: Species whose presence/absence indicates environmental quality.
• Indicator species examples: Lichens (indicate air quality), mayflies (indicate water quality).
• Indicator species role in the ecosystem: Signal ecosystem health.
• Indicator species human impact: Human - caused environmental changes (pollution, habitat loss) affect their populations.
• Endangered species definition: Species at risk of extinction.
• Endangered species examples: Giant pandas, Amur leopards.
• Endangered species role in the ecosystem: Play specific ecological roles (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal).
• Endangered species human impact: Habitat destruction, poaching, climate change (human - induced) are major threats.
• Analysis question answer: Invasive species impact biodiversity the most. Reasons: They out - compete native species for resources (e.g., zebra mussels deplete food for native fish) and disrupt ecological webs (e.g., cane toads kill native predators in Australia).