2) Explain the immediate and secondary effects of removing otters from a kelp forest ecosystem. (use the word: keystone species, biodiverse/biodiversity) Text Reflection 1A Tale of Two Kelp ForestsEcosystems are dynamic systems that are constantly under the influence of outside forces. Natural disturbances, such asstorms, may negatively impact how an ecosystem functions. Human influences, such as pollution and exploitation, can alsocause changes and place stress on a habitat. Ecosystem resilience refers to how easily an ecosystem can resist significantchange, or bounce back, after a disturbance or new pressure is applied to the system.Within an ecosystem, populations of organisms are limited or regulated in different ways. Sometimes a lack of nutrients limitsplant growth, therefore the ecosystem can only support a limited number of herbivores and the carnivores that prey on them.In other circumstances, plantlife is able to flourish and support a wide range of herbivores, only because predators regulatetheir populations. Predators keep the population of herbivores low, so that they do not devastate the available producers.For example, in Alaskan kelp forests, sea otters control populations of herbivorous sea urchins through predation. When seaotters are removed from the ecosystem (for example, by human exploitation), urchin populations are released frompredatory control and grow dramatically. This leads to increased herbivore pressure on local kelp stands. Over consumptionof the kelp itself results in the loss of physical ecosystem structure and subsequently, the loss of many other species that live inand use this habitat. In Alaskan kelp forest ecosystems, sea otters are the keystone species that serves to regulate a stableecosystem. The otter is considered a keystone, because it exerts an inordinate amount of influence (compared to otherspecies) in maintaining the ecosystem.When urchin populations are allowed to grow uncontrolled, they can completely destroy all of the kelp. This process leads toa new stable ecosystem, called urchin barrens, in which urchins dominate the area. Although this type of ecosystem is stable,it is much less biodiverse than the original kelp forest, because only a few species can exist there. Recovery can only occur ifurchin populations are controlled, allowing the kelp to grow back.Generally, biodiverse ecosystems include more complex food webs that can withstand disturbances. Biodiversityencompases not only many different types of species that overlap in their roles, but the genetic diversity of a population.When a population decreases to low levels, individuals may have trouble finding suitable mates and producing sufficientnumbers of genetically diverse offspring. A lack of genetic diversity in a population can increase genetic abnormalities anddisease -- making an already small population more vulnerable to extinction.

Question

2) Explain the immediate and secondary effects of removing otters from a kelp forest ecosystem.  (use the word: keystone species, biodiverse/biodiversity) Text Reflection 1A Tale of Two Kelp ForestsEcosystems are dynamic systems that are constantly under the influence of outside forces. Natural disturbances, such asstorms, may negatively impact how an ecosystem functions. Human influences, such as pollution and exploitation, can alsocause changes and place stress on a habitat. Ecosystem resilience refers to how easily an ecosystem can resist significantchange, or bounce back, after a disturbance or new pressure is applied to the system.Within an ecosystem, populations of organisms are limited or regulated in different ways. Sometimes a lack of nutrients limitsplant growth, therefore the ecosystem can only support a limited number of herbivores and the carnivores that prey on them.In other circumstances, plantlife is able to flourish and support a wide range of herbivores, only because predators regulatetheir populations. Predators keep the population of herbivores low, so that they do not devastate the available producers.For example, in Alaskan kelp forests, sea otters control populations of herbivorous sea urchins through predation. When seaotters are removed from the ecosystem (for example, by human exploitation), urchin populations are released frompredatory control and grow dramatically. This leads to increased herbivore pressure on local kelp stands. Over consumptionof the kelp itself results in the loss of physical ecosystem structure and subsequently, the loss of many other species that live inand use this habitat. In Alaskan kelp forest ecosystems, sea otters are the keystone species that serves to regulate a stableecosystem. The otter is considered a keystone, because it exerts an inordinate amount of influence (compared to otherspecies) in maintaining the ecosystem.When urchin populations are allowed to grow uncontrolled, they can completely destroy all of the kelp. This process leads toa new stable ecosystem, called urchin barrens, in which urchins dominate the area. Although this type of ecosystem is stable,it is much less biodiverse than the original kelp forest, because only a few species can exist there. Recovery can only occur ifurchin populations are controlled, allowing the kelp to grow back.Generally, biodiverse ecosystems include more complex food webs that can withstand disturbances. Biodiversityencompases not only many different types of species that overlap in their roles, but the genetic diversity of a population.When a population decreases to low levels, individuals may have trouble finding suitable mates and producing sufficientnumbers of genetically diverse offspring. A lack of genetic diversity in a population can increase genetic abnormalities anddisease -- making an already small population more vulnerable to extinction.

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem has various factors that regulate its diversity and structure. Most of it is done by…