Which event most likely caused the change seen at the beginning of year 2?
A.
A competitor of the chipmunks decreased in number.
B.
The chipmunks' offspring became healthier.
C.
The chipmunks' food source became more plentiful.
D.
More predators of chipmunks were introduced.
Based on the information given, the event that most likely caused the change seen at the beginning of year 2 is:
C. The chipmunks' food source became more plentiful.
Based on the given options, the event that most likely caused the change seen at the beginning of year 2 is option C: The chipmunks' food source became more plentiful.
To determine which event most likely caused the change seen at the beginning of year 2, we need to evaluate each option and consider its impact on the chipmunk population. Let's look at each option individually:
A. A competitor of the chipmunks decreased in number.
If a competitor of the chipmunks decreased in number, it would reduce competition for resources, potentially benefiting the chipmunk population. However, the decrease in competitors alone might not be sufficient to cause a significant change in the chipmunk population.
B. The chipmunks' offspring became healthier.
If the chipmunks' offspring became healthier, it would likely lead to higher survival rates, which could contribute to an increase in the chipmunk population. However, this is more likely to impact the chipmunk population in the long term rather than causing an immediate change at the beginning of year 2.
C. The chipmunks' food source became more plentiful.
If the chipmunks' food source became more plentiful, it would provide them with more resources to survive and reproduce. This increase in available resources could lead to a higher population of chipmunks in a relatively short time frame, making it a plausible explanation for the change seen at the beginning of year 2.
D. More predators of chipmunks were introduced.
The introduction of more predators could have a negative impact on the chipmunk population. An increase in predation could result in a decline in the chipmunk population rather than causing a change leading to population growth.
Based on the analysis above, option C. The chipmunks' food source becoming more plentiful, is the most likely event that caused the change seen at the beginning of year 2.