Question

Poaching of tiger is a burning issue in today's world. What implication would this activity have on the functioning of the ecosystem of which the tigers are an integral part?

Answer 1

Role of tigers in the ecosystem:

• Tigers are top carnivores in the grazing food chain that operates in a terrestrial ecosystem.
• They prey on primary consumers. hence, indirectly ensuring that overgrazing of the plants is prevented.

Effect of declining tiger population:

The decline in the number of tigers will have the following effects:-

• Increase in the population of the herbivores.
• Decrease in the plant population.
• This would hamper transpiration and ultimately rainfall.

Hence, the entire ecosystem is disturbed.