Imagine that an ecosystem contains, rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following predator-prey relationships exist:
• rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves
• dear are eaten by wolves
• foxes are eaten by wolves
Select the animal, whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
A. Wolf.
B. Dear.
C. Rabbit.
D. Fox.
A. Wolf.
The absence of wolves would lead to a rapid increase in the population of both deer and rabbits, which would in turn cause overgrazing and depletion of vegetation, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. Additionally, the absence of wolves would remove a significant predator that helps control the populations of both foxes and rabbits. Thus, the absence of wolves would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
To determine the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem, let's analyze the predator-prey relationships:
1. Rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves.
2. Deer are eaten by wolves.
3. Foxes are eaten by wolves.
If we remove each animal from the ecosystem one by one, we can observe the consequences:
A. Wolf: The absence of wolves would mean that rabbits and deer population would increase significantly since they wouldn't have a predator. This would lead to an overpopulation of rabbits and deer, which can result in overgrazing of vegetation, leading to habitat destruction and eventually reducing resources for other animals. The absence of the wolf would disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, making it susceptible to instability. So, removing the wolf would have a significant negative effect on the ecosystem.
B. Deer: Removing the deer would impact the wolf population as they rely on deer as a food source. Not having enough food would likely reduce the wolf population. However, rabbits would still be available for the foxes and wolves to prey on, so while it may disrupt the balance to some extent, it may not have as significant of a negative effect as the absence of wolves.
C. Rabbit: Removing rabbits would affect the food source for both foxes and wolves, leading to a decrease in their population. However, the foxes and wolves have alternative food sources, such as deer, so they may still survive and adapt to some extent. The absence of rabbits would likely impact the predator populations but may have less of a negative effect on the overall ecosystem compared to the absence of wolves.
D. Fox: If foxes were removed from the ecosystem, wolves would still have deer as their food source. The absence of foxes would not have as direct of an impact on other populations or the overall ecosystem compared to the absence of wolves.
Considering the above analysis, the correct answer is A. Wolf. The absence of wolves would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
To determine which animal's absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem, we need to consider the impacts these animals have on the food chain and the overall balance of the ecosystem.
In this ecosystem, rabbits are eaten by both foxes and wolves. So, if rabbits were removed from the ecosystem, it would potentially reduce the food source for both foxes and wolves. This could lead to a decrease in their population size, impacting the balance of the ecosystem.
Deer are eaten by wolves, so their absence could potentially have a negative effect on the wolves, reducing their food source, which might result in the decline of the wolf population.
Foxes, on the other hand, are eaten by wolves. If foxes were absent from the ecosystem, it would not directly impact the food source for either the wolves or the deer. Although foxes contribute to controlling rabbit population, their absence would not have as significant of a negative effect on the ecosystem compared to rabbits and deer.
Considering all these factors, the absence of wolves would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem. Wolves play a crucial role as the top predator in this food chain. Without wolves, both the deer and rabbit populations could increase dramatically, leading to overgrazing, habitat destruction, and population imbalances, ultimately disrupting the entire ecosystem.
Therefore, the correct answer is A. Wolf.