Use the scenario to answer the following question.
A forest ecosystem is home to mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats and deer. The deer eat grass. The mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats eat deer. Hunters began killing large numbers of mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats. About twenty years later, the deer population had largely increased. The teacher asked the students to explain why the population of deer had a large increase in population size.
Which student’s argument MOST accurately explains the increase in the deer population?
Student 3: The number of deer increased because with fewer mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, the deer had more food available to eat.
Student 2: The number of deer increased because without mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, the deer lived longer and had more offspring that also lived longer.
Student 1: The number of deer increased because deer populations are always increasing, even when there are mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats preying on them.
Student 4: The deer population increased because with fewer mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, there was less competition within the deer population.