Shrews and insect-eating birds both eat the same prey in the food web shown above. The ecosystem experiences a shortage of grass, which impacts the population of grasshoppers. What will happen to the populations of shrews and insect-eating birds when the population of grasshoppers decline?
The population of insect-eating birds will increase due to an increase in food supply.
An increase in the food supply will cause the populations of shrews to increase.
The population of shrews will increase because they will eat rabbits and squirrels.
Shrews and insect-eating birds will compete for food causing one or both of the populations to decline.
The correct answer is: Shrews and insect-eating birds will compete for food causing one or both of the populations to decline.
When the population of grasshoppers declines, both shrews and insect-eating birds will have to compete for other food sources, which may put pressure on their populations. Additionally, a decline in grasshopper population may have other cascading effects on the food web, which could further impact the populations of the shrews and insect-eating birds. Therefore, it is difficult to predict with certainty what will happen to their populations, but it is likely that there will be some level of competition and potentially declining populations.