From December 2011 to March 2017, the state of California experienced one of the worst droughts to occur in the region on record. The period between late 2011 and 2014 was the driest in California history since record-keeping began. During this time, the plant population has decreased significantly in the area. Which of the following statements best describes how the decrease in the plant population has affected the biodiversity of the area.
A. Omnivore population sizes increase, and herbivore population sizes increase.
B. Omnivore population sizes decrease, and carnivore population sizes increase.
C.Herbivore population sizes increase, and carnivore population sizes decrease.
D. Herbivore population sizes decrease, and carnivore population sizes decrease.
If a population does not have enough food, either herbivore or carnivore, what do you think happens?
I believe it would be D
Herbivore population sizes decrease, and carnivore population sizes decrease.
Although im not 100% but it seems the most logical
Herbivores eat plants, and sense the plant population decreased, there wasn't enough to go around for so many so there were a lot less
And Carnivores rely on herbivores for their food, and sense there weren't as many herbivores, there wasn't enough to go around
To determine the best answer, we need to understand the relationship between plant populations and the populations of other organisms in an ecosystem.
In a typical ecosystem, plants form the base of the food chain as they are producers, capturing energy from the sun and converting it into food. Herbivores then feed on these plants, and carnivores feed on the herbivores.
Given the information that the plant population has decreased significantly in California during the drought, we can infer that the decrease in plant population will have a cascading effect on other organisms in the ecosystem.
Option A, which suggests that both omnivore and herbivore populations increase, is unlikely because a decrease in plant populations would likely lead to a decrease in herbivore populations, as their food source becomes scarce. Therefore, we can eliminate option A.
Option B, which suggests that omnivore population sizes decrease, and carnivore population sizes increase, is also unlikely. While it is plausible that a decrease in herbivore populations could result in an increase in carnivore populations due to less competition for resources, it is not necessary for omnivore populations to decrease as well. Therefore, we can eliminate option B.
Option D, which suggests that both herbivore and carnivore populations decrease, is a possibility. A decrease in plant populations could lead to a decrease in herbivore populations, and subsequently, a decrease in carnivore populations that rely on herbivores as their food source. However, we cannot conclude with certainty that this is the best answer.
Option C, which suggests that herbivore population sizes increase, and carnivore population sizes decrease, is the most likely answer. When plant populations decrease, herbivores may face increased competition for limited resources, causing their populations to increase. At the same time, carnivores, who rely on herbivores as a food source, may experience a decline in population due to reduced prey availability.
Therefore, the best statement that describes how the decrease in plant population has affected the biodiversity of the area is that herbivore population sizes increase, and carnivore population sizes decrease (option C).