A biologist studying a desert ecosystem observes that the population of a lizard species increases following particularly hot, dry period that causes a snake population to decline. What could the biologist hypthesize 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.

All of them sound like they could be the answer,

Asking for help is allowed though.

you are in connexus science 6A

it is D

Is it D?

No it is C they are lying and you'll get it wrong

To determine the best hypothesis regarding the roles of the lizard and snake in this desert ecosystem, let's break down the options:

A) The lizard preys on the snake: This hypothesis suggests that the lizard species benefits from the decline in the snake population because it feeds on snakes. To support or disprove this hypothesis, the biologist would need to study the feeding habits of lizards and determine if there is a correlation between snake population declines and lizard population increases.

B) The lizard is a parasite of the snake: This hypothesis proposes that the lizard species is a parasite that depends on the snake for survival. To investigate this hypothesis, the biologist would need to study the interactions between lizards and snakes and examine if there is evidence of parasitic behavior.

C) The snake and lizard use the same limiting resource: This hypothesis suggests that the lizard population increases because the hot, dry period negatively affects the snake's access to a limited resource that both species depend on. To explore this hypothesis, the biologist would need to identify the limiting resource and determine if it has a significant impact on both snake and lizard populations.

D) The snake is a keystone species in the ecosystem: This hypothesis implies that the snake plays a crucial role in the desert ecosystem, and its decline triggers cascading effects that benefit the lizard population. To investigate this hypothesis, the biologist would need to study the broader ecological interactions between the snake and other species in the ecosystem.

Ultimately, the best hypothesis would be the one that explains the observed population changes (increase in lizards, decline in snakes) within the context of the specific ecosystem. Gathering more data, analyzing ecological interactions, and conducting experiments would be necessary to determine the most accurate conclusion.

cheating is not allowed though