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

Poaching (hunting) of a tiger disturbs the ecological balance in the ecosystem. Tigers are important predator of forests. Predator keeps the prey population under control. Due to the hunting of a tiger, its population decreases, hence the population of deer (prey) increases and interspecific competition occurs between them. Due to an increase in prey population (that feeds on vegetation/grass), vegetation is destroyed rapidly which causes ecological disturbance.