Question

13. Trees in these hardwood forests can be considered

a. Allogenic ecosystem engineers because they modify the environment by mechanically changing materials/structures from one form to another

b. Allogenic ecosystem engineers because they modify the environment by modifying themselves.

c. Autogenic ecosystem engineers because they modify the environment by mechanically changing materials/structures from one form to another

d. Autogenic ecosystem engineers because they modify the environment by modifying themselves.

Answer 1

Answer is 4 th option.

Autogenic ecosystem engineers are the ones which modify the environment by modifying themselves.

Autogenic engineers modify the environment by changing their physical structures i.e their own living and dead tissues.

Their living and dead tissues create habitats for other living things.

Allogenic ecosystem enginners are the ones which modify the environment by mechanically transforming the material both living and non living from one form to the other or various forms.

Trees in the hardwood forests are considered as autogenic engineers because modify themselves to modify the environment.

They grow their trunks and branches and they create habitats for other living things like birds, insects, squirrels etc.