Hunting lions has been banned in some parts of Africa. If this law is enforced, what can we expect to happen to the populations of small mammals in the same locations?
A)
The small mammal populations will decrease.
B)
The small mammals will become extinct on Earth.
C)
The small mammal populations will increase also.
Eliminate
D)
The small mammal populations will balance out and stay the same.
I'll gladly check your answer.
I THINK C
You're welcome.
To determine the potential impact of banning lion hunting on the populations of small mammals in the same locations in Africa, we need to consider the ecological relationship between lions and small mammals. Lions are top predators, and their presence in an ecosystem can influence the population dynamics of their prey species, including small mammals.
Given that lions are no longer being hunted, it is likely that their populations will increase in the areas where hunting was previously allowed. This can have both direct and indirect effects on small mammal populations.
Directly, an increase in lion population can lead to increased predation pressure on small mammals. With more lions, there may be higher rates of predation on small mammal populations, potentially causing a decrease in their numbers.
Indirectly, the presence of more lions can also have cascading effects on the ecosystem. For example, lions hunting larger herbivores could result in decreased grazing pressure on vegetation, which may in turn benefit small mammals by providing more habitat and food resources.
Considering these possibilities, option A) is the most likely answer: the small mammal populations will decrease in response to the increasing lion populations.
It's important to note that ecosystem dynamics are complex, and the actual outcomes may vary depending on various factors such as habitat availability, competition, and other ecological interactions. Ongoing studies and monitoring would provide more accurate insights into the specific impacts of banning lion hunting on small mammal populations in Africa.