hat would MOST LIKELY happen if gazelles were removed from this ecosystem?
The populations of lions and zebras would increase.
The populations of lions and zebras would decrease.
The populations of hyenas and grasses would increase.
The populations of zebras and grasses would decrease.
If gazelles were removed from the ecosystem, the populations of lions and hyenas (their predators) would decrease initially due to lack of food. However, the population of zebras may increase in the short term as there would be fewer predators for them. However, without gazelles to eat grasses, the grass population would increase more than what is optimal for the ecosystem, causing overgrazing and depletion of resources. Therefore, the most likely outcome would be the population of zebras and grasses decreasing in the long term. The correct answer is: The populations of zebras and grasses would decrease.
If gazelles were removed from this ecosystem, the most likely outcome would be that the populations of lions and zebras would decrease. Gazelles are a common prey for lions, and without them, lions may struggle to find enough food to sustain their population. Additionally, zebras also rely on gazelles as a food source, so their population may also decline in the absence of gazelles.
If gazelles were removed from an ecosystem, the most likely consequence would be that the populations of lions and zebras would decrease. Here's the explanation:
Gazelles are herbivores that serve as a food source for predators such as lions. Lions primarily rely on hunting and feeding on gazelles for their survival. In the absence of gazelles, lions would face a scarcity of their primary prey, leading to a decrease in their population.
Additionally, gazelles also play a role in the ecosystem by grazing on grasses. By reducing grass levels through grazing, gazelles create space for new grass growth and maintain the health of the grassland ecosystem. Without gazelles, the grasses would likely grow uncontrolled, leading to a decline in their population.
The populations of hyenas and grasses are not usually directly dependent on gazelles. Although hyenas are scavengers that can consume gazelle carcasses, they have a more diverse diet and can feed on other sources as well. Similarly, grasses are influenced more by factors like water availability, soil fertility, and other grazing animals rather than the absence of gazelles.
Therefore, the most likely outcome if gazelles were removed from the ecosystem would be a decrease in the populations of lions and zebras, rather than an increase in the populations of hyenas and grasses.