Anthropogenic Changes Biology Diagrams

Anthropogenic Changes Biology Diagrams The desert is a harsh, dry environment, but plants and animals who have adapted to those conditions thrive in these ecosystems. From eagles to ants, there are a diverse range of plants and animals that live and interact with one another in deserts around the world. Like all ecosystems, the web of species interactions can be fragile, and species extinction can have a large effect. If a species has a unique function in its ecosystem, its loss can prompt cascading effects through the food chain (a "trophic cascade"), impacting other species and the ecosystem itself. An often-cited example is the impact of the wolves in Yellowstone Park, which were hunted to near extinction by 1930.

Every living thing plays a role in the food chain and Earth's ecosystems, and the extinction of certain species, whether predators or prey, can leave behind significant impacts. A food web, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, is "who eats what." Also called the food chain, the food web describes the series of relationships that occur between predators and prey in an ecosystem. You are a member of the food web if you eat animals that have eaten other animals or plants.

What Happens When Something In A Food Chain Goes Extinct? Biology Diagrams

The food chain, or food web, describes how energy and nutrients move through an ecosystem. At its base are producers, Other species that relied on them for food may suffer, and the ecosystem's overall health can decline. A cascading effect means that one extinction can trigger more. The loss of genetic diversity and potential medicinal

Effects on the Environment. Ecosystems are carefully balanced, with a hierarchy of prey and predators that keep populations in check. As species go extinct, they are taken out of the food chain. Animals that ate the newly-extinct species have to find new food sources or starve. This can damage the populations of other plants or animals.

The Effects of Endangered Species in 2024 Biology Diagrams

The Domino Effect of Extinction. The primary impact of extinction stems from the interconnectedness of species within food chains. When a species goes extinct, its predators lose a vital food source, potentially leading to their decline or even local extinction. Simultaneously, prey species may experience unchecked population growth, causing an Disrupted Habitat. Extinction of animal or bird species in the food chain may alter the physical environment as well. For instance, accidental introduction of the predatory brown tree snake to Guam wiped out 10 of the 12 native bird species on the island causing collateral damage to the forest, according to a University of Washington study.