The best explanation for why a decrease in the types of insects in an ecosystem reduces the sustainability of the ecosystem is:
1. Organisms that depend on insects may not survive, eventually harming all the organisms that are interconnected.
Here's why this is the correct explanation:
- Insects play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as pollination, decomposition, and being a food source for other organisms.
- If the types of insects decrease, organisms that rely on them for food or other purposes may struggle to survive, leading to a ripple effect that can harm the entire ecosystem.
- Interconnectedness in ecosystems means that changes in one species can have widespread impacts on others, highlighting the importance of maintaining biodiversity, including insect populations, for ecosystem sustainability.