Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?
A) limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount
B) influence of solar radiation on competition among plants
C) influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers
D) effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Top-down control refers to the influence of consumers (in this case, grazers like bison) on ecosystem structure, such as plant species diversity. Grazing intensity can significantly affect which plant species are dominant, thereby exemplifying a top-down control mechanism.

Which of the Following Could Qualify as a Top-Down Control