Which of the following terms describes species that create geographical changes in their environment?

Which of the following terms describes species that create geographical changes in their environment?

• A. Invasive species
• B. Ecosystem engineers
• C. Producers
• D. Parasites

Answer: (B)

The term that describes species that create geographical changes in their environment is "ecosystem engineers." These organisms actively modify their habitats, leading to significant alterations in the structure and function of ecosystems. For example, beavers are well-known ecosystem engineers because they build dams, which can transform river landscapes into ponds and wetlands. This modification not only affects the beavers' own habitat but also influences the species that rely on these aquatic environments. This concept is crucial in ecology, as ecosystem engineers play a key role in biodiversity and the health of ecological communities. They create new niches and habitats that can support various other species, impacting nutrient cycling, water retention, and habitat availability. The other options don't pertain to organisms that significantly alter their environments in the same way. Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems but do not inherently create geographical changes; producers are organisms that convert energy (like plants) without altering the physical environment as their main role; and parasites depend on their hosts for survival but do not modify the habitats in a major geographical sense. Thus, "ecosystem engineers" accurately reflects the species that are fundamentally involved in creating geographical changes through their activities.

The term that describes species that create geographical changes in their environment is "ecosystem engineers." These organisms actively modify their habitats, leading to significant alterations in the structure and function of ecosystems. For example, beavers are well-known ecosystem engineers because they build dams, which can transform river landscapes into ponds and wetlands. This modification not only affects the beavers' own habitat but also influences the species that rely on these aquatic environments.

This concept is crucial in ecology, as ecosystem engineers play a key role in biodiversity and the health of ecological communities. They create new niches and habitats that can support various other species, impacting nutrient cycling, water retention, and habitat availability.

The other options don't pertain to organisms that significantly alter their environments in the same way. Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems but do not inherently create geographical changes; producers are organisms that convert energy (like plants) without altering the physical environment as their main role; and parasites depend on their hosts for survival but do not modify the habitats in a major geographical sense. Thus, "ecosystem engineers" accurately reflects the species that are fundamentally involved in creating geographical changes through their activities.