In October of 2003, a raging wildfire swept through the mountain ecosystems in Southern California, burning everything in its path to the ground and driving away all of the animals. In order for the mountain ecosystem to re-establish itself, which member of the food web has to return first?
A) deer
B) snakes
C) birds
D) coyotes
E) grasses

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Grasses are normally the first organisms to return after a wildfire, as their roots can survive underground and quickly regrow after the fire. This provides a foundation for other plants and animals to return to the ecosystem. The other options, such as deer, snakes, birds, and coyotes, are all higher up in the food web and depend on the presence of lower-level organisms such as plants for survival.

In October of 2003, a Raging Wildfire Swept Through the Mountain