Question

Pet owners have abandoned their Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Native species of frogs and reptiles decrease with the introduction of the snakes. Which statement best describes the resulting impact to the environment? A loss in biodiversity due to mutualism A loss of biodiversity due to an invasive species A loss of biodiversity due to a catastrophic event A loss of biodiversity due to a commensalism

Answer 1

It would be a loss in biodiversity , due to invasive species because the abandonment of pythons grew and they bred and had babies

Answer 2

The correct answer is B. A loss of biodiversity due to an invasive species

Explanation:

An invasive species refers to a non-native species that harm ecosystems because it disrupts the natural balance due to a lack of predators that cause the population to increase rapidly. In the case presented, the Burmese pythons can be classified as an invasive species because they were introduced into a new ecosystem, the Everglades.

Additionally, as most native species the pythons had a negative impact on this new environment reducing biodiversity as native species have decreased and are likely to disappear, which means there would be fewer species in the zone. This is likely the result of the exponential growth of pythons population as in this new ecosystem it is likely they do not have natural predators. Thus, this case can be described as "a loss of biodiversity due to an invasive species".