Respuesta :
This food web (attached image) describes feeding relationships in a tropical community.
If an invasive species of beetle enters this community, which change is most likely to happen?
A. An increase in the stability of the overall ecosystem
B. A decline in the native species of beetle
C. An increase in biodiversity throughout the community
D. A decline in competition for strangler figs as a food sourc
Invasive species compete for resources with native species affecting the stability of trophic webs. The correct option is B) A decline in the native species of beetle.
What is a trophic web?
The trophic web is a relationship process between different organisms, through which occurs transference of energy. The ones placed at lower levels pass energy to the ones at the higher levels.
As it is a web, all organisms are equilibrated until a change occurs. When the change affects any of the involved links, there can be a cascade effect on the web.
A change in a link population size (increasing or decreasing) will affect the superior links and the immediately anterior link.
Also, when two or more species are competing for the same source of food, a change in any of the population sizes will affect the other ones.
What are the effects of invasive species?
The introduction of invasive species has ecological, economic, and socio-cultural consequences.
Once an invasive species has been established, it overgrows.
In the new areas, these species have less environmental pressure and better conditions than in their origin area -fewer predators, more resources, and better nitches-. These factors favor their establishment because they are adapted to surviving under harder conditions.
They interact with native species by competing for resources such -as water, place, radiation, exposure, shelter, food, etcetera-.
They can also become significant predators of native species, consuming a wide diversity of prey items, and in many cases, there are no native species that may prey on them.
They provoke significant damage to the structure of native ecosystems, causing severe damage to endemic species. They produce ecological imbalances in the trophic chains and the dynamics of communities. Invasive species are uncontrollable.
As they expand, they can also affect human in an economic manner and has socio-cultural effects.
In the exposed trophic web,
- native beetle feed on strangler fig.
- coati, bat, and fungi also get energy from strangler fig.
- coati, poison frogs, and fungi feed on beetles.
When an invasive species enters and stablishes in a stable community, it alters the whole dynamic.
One of the pricipal characteristics of invasive species is that they compete with native species for resources. One of these resources is food.
- Invasive beetles will compete with native beetles for strangler fig. Due to the characteristics of invasive species as strong competitors, native beetles population will decline.
- Coati and fruit bat will also be affected by the introduction of this new invasive species, because they will also compete for food. Bats only feed on figs, so its population will also decline. Coati will also be affected, but probably less because it might feed on invasive beetles.
The whole community structure will be affected after the introduction of this new species.
Options,
A. An increase in the stability of the overall ecosystem
No, the stability of the ecosystem will decrease
B. A decline in the native species of beetle
Yes, native species compete for food and other resources with the invasive beetle species. As invasive species are good competitors, native beetle will be affected and its population will decline.
C. An increase in biodiversity throughout the community
No, because the introduction of invasive species causes a reduction in biodiversity.
D. A decline in competition for strangler figs as a food source
No, because many species feed on figs, including the invasive species, which will affect all the other ones.
The correct option is B. A decline in the native species of beetle.
You can learn more about invasive species at
https://brainly.com/question/18200563
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