Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
All ecosystems rely on the availability of key resources such as water, sunlight, and nutrients. In grasslands, water is often the most important limiting factor. When rainfall is plentiful, grasses grow quickly, providing abundant food and shelter for insects, grazing animals, and predators. But when rainfall decreases, the system changes dramatically.
During a drought, plants close their stomata to conserve water, slowing photosynthesis and growth. Shallow-rooted grasses die first, leaving behind dry soil that can erode easily. As plants disappear, herbivore populations decline because food becomes scarce. With fewer herbivores, predator populations also shrink.
These connected population changes demonstrate how resource availability affects every level of the food web. When rain returns, the ecosystem can recover - but long-term or repeated droughts may permanently shift the balance, favoring drought-tolerant species.
Graph of Information - Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Using Table 1, describe the pattern between rainfall amount and plant biomass across the years shown.
Which statement is best supported by the data?
Does the data support the idea that resource availability (rainfall) affects plant populations in grasslands?
Claim:
Evidence:
Reasoning:
Explain how a long period of drought could affect herbivore and predator populations in a grassland ecosystem.
Which explanation best describes why shallow-rooted grasses die first during drought conditions?
Compare grass cover in 2017 and 2020. What does this difference show about how drought affects plant populations?