Question

ECOLOGY: What are the ecosystem impacts of world-wide top predator declines? (10 marks)

Answer 1

Explanation:

 Predators are an important part of a healthy ecosystem, they remove vulnerable prey (old, injured, sick, or very young), leaving more food for the survival and success of healthy prey animals, this helps slow down the spread of disease allowing only the fittest animals survive and reproduce. They also help to reduce the impact their prey may have on the ecosystem if they become too abundant or it they stayed in one area for too long.    

The catastrophic decline around the world of "apex" predators such as wolves, cougars, lions or sharks has led to a huge increase in smaller "mesopredators" that are causing major economic and ecological disruptions (not acomplishing the roll we mentioned in the beginning).          Large predators are usually carnivores, but mesopredators are often omnivores and can cause significant plant and crop damage.  

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