In October of 2022.a raging wildfire swept through the mountain ecosystems in Southern California, burning everything in its path to the ground and driving away all of the animals. In order for the mountain ecosystem to re-establish itself, which member of the food web has to return first? coyotes snakes deer birds grasses

In order for the mountain ecosystem to re-establish itself after a wildfire, the first members of the food web that need to return are the primary producers, which in this case would be the grasses. Grasses and other plants are crucial because they form the base of the food web, providing energy and nutrients to herbivores like deer. Once the plant life begins to recover, it can support the return of herbivores, followed by predators such as snakes, birds, and coyotes. Therefore, grasses must return first to kickstart the recovery of the entire ecosystem.