A biologist studying a desert ecosystem observes that the population of a lizard species increases following a particularly hot, dry period that causes a snake population to decline. What could the biologist hypothesize about the roles of these two species?
A.The lizard preys on the snake
B.The lizard is a parasite of the snake
C.The snake and lizard use the same limiting resource
D.The snake is a keystone species in the ecosystem
The answer is D
you are correct d is the answer
To answer this question, the biologist needs to make an educated guess using the given information. Let's break it down:
1. The population of a lizard species increases following a particularly hot, dry period.
2. This hot, dry period causes a snake population to decline.
Based on these observations, the biologist can hypothesize about the roles of these two species:
A. The lizard preys on the snake: This hypothesis suggests that the lizard is consuming the snake population, leading to its decline. However, this does not align with the information given, as the lizard population is increasing while the snake population is decreasing. Therefore, this hypothesis can be ruled out.
B. The lizard is a parasite of the snake: This hypothesis suggests that the lizard is dependant on the snake for its survival and growth, potentially harming the snake population. Again, this does not fit the given information as the lizard population is increasing. Therefore, this hypothesis can also be ruled out.
C. The snake and lizard use the same limiting resource: This hypothesis proposes that the snake and lizard species compete for a limited resource in the desert ecosystem. The hot, dry period might have reduced the availability of this resource, leading to a decline in the snake population. At the same time, the lizard population could be more adaptable or have access to an alternative food source, allowing it to thrive. This hypothesis seems plausible given the provided information.
D. The snake is a keystone species in the ecosystem: This hypothesis suggests that the snake plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the desert ecosystem, and its decline has had indirect effects on the lizard population. However, this hypothesis is unlikely because the given information suggests that the snake decline directly leads to the increase in the lizard population.
Out of the given options, the most reasonable hypothesis is C. The snake and lizard use the same limiting resource.