Question

Long term effects of loss of biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef

Answer 1

Great Barrier Reef has an intricate network of the food web. A loss of biodiversity will lead to the loss of species that form connections within this food web. Example if the phytoplanktons become extinct in the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem then the primary consumers like the zooplanktons will get negatively affected. Food chains that depend on this producer will collapse eventually leading to the extinction of several species. The long term effect of such a loss in biodiversity will be the collapse of the food web. This will adversely effect the ecosystem and the livelihood of humans that depend on it.