Sand lances of the genus Ammodytes are small fish that function as keystone organisms in several coastal
ecosystems. These sand lances are prey fish that support organisms at higher trophic levels. Scientists
performed experiments to examine how sand lance populations are likely to be affected by the rising
temperatures and CO₂ levels associated with climate change.
Sand lance embryos typically develop and mature into adult fish at low temperatures (approximately 5°C)
and stable, low CO₂ levels (approximately 400 μatm). Over the course of two years, the scientists measured
the survival rate of sand lance embryos allowed to develop and mature in a laboratory at three different
temperatures, 5°C, 7°C, and 10°C, with the level of CO₂ maintained at 400 μatm, 1,000 μatm, and
2,100 μatm for each temperature.
(a) Describe the effect of increased biodiversity on the resilience of an ecosystem in a
changing environment.