Question

an ecosystem with higher biodiversity is often better able to support life. when an ecosystem has many different species, it can provide more types of food, shelter, and other resources for the organisms living there.
having many species may also increase an ecosystems resilience, or ability to handle stress or damage. if one species is wiped out by a disaster or disease, another species may be able to fill the same role in the ecosystem. for example, a disease could wipe out a species that is eaten by many predators. an ecosystem with higher biodiversity is more likely to have other species that those predators can eat.
how might high biodiversity help a coral reef? select the three best choices.
it protects the reef from ever being stressed or damaged by humans.
it makes the reef more likely to recover from a natural disaster, such as a storm.
it provides the reefs organisms with more types of food and shelter.
it could help the reefs ecosystem adjust if one of its species goes extinct.

Explanation:

• The first option is incorrect because high biodiversity does not protect the reef from ever being stressed or damaged by humans. Human activities like pollution, over - fishing, and coastal development can still impact a reef with high biodiversity.
• The second option is correct. High biodiversity increases an ecosystem's resilience. A coral reef with many species is more likely to recover from a natural disaster like a storm as there are more species that can potentially fill in the ecological niches affected by the disaster.
• The third option is correct. As stated in the text, an ecosystem (including a coral reef) with many different species can provide more types of food, shelter, and other resources for the organisms living there.
• The fourth option is correct. If one species goes extinct, having high biodiversity means there is a higher chance that another species can fill the same role in the ecosystem (as per the example of predators and their prey in the text).

Answer:

The second, third, and fourth options.