Students are looking for examples that show how competition for limited resources affects populations of organisms.
Which scenario shows evidence that competition for limited resources affects the population of a species?
Answer options with 4 options
A.
A population of grasshoppers destroys large fields of crops.
B.
The mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases.
C.
The deer population on an island rises steadily and then levels out for many years.
D.
The population of geese in an area decreases when they migrate south for the winter.
The correct answer is B. The mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases. This scenario suggests that the limited resources for the mouse population (e.g., food, shelter) are becoming less limited due to a decrease in competition from the fox population.
Which relationship is an example of commensalism?
Answer options with 4 options
A.
Deer and dogs are hosts to ticks that suck out small quantities of blood for nourishment.
B.
Plants produce brightly colored flowers with nectar, which attract insects to pollinate them.
C.
Acacia ants live on and protect the acacia tree, and they eat the nectar provided by the tree.
D.
Cattle egrets follow livestock and eat insects that are disturbed by the livestock's movement.
The correct answer is D. Cattle egrets follow livestock and eat insects that are disturbed by the livestock's movement. This is an example of commensalism because the cattle egrets benefit from the relationship by getting a source of food, while the livestock are unaffected (neither harmed nor benefited) by the presence of the egrets.
The scenario that shows evidence that competition for limited resources affects the population of a species is option B. The mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases. This indicates that there is competition for resources (such as food) between the mice and foxes. As the fox population decreases, there are fewer predators to control the mouse population, leading to an increase in the mouse population.
To determine which scenario shows evidence that competition for limited resources affects the population of a species, we need to analyze each answer option:
A. A population of grasshoppers destroys large fields of crops.
This scenario suggests competition for limited resources because the grasshoppers are consuming a significant amount of the available crops. The competition for food resources may result in a decrease in the crop population, affecting both the grasshopper and human populations.
B. The mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases.
In this scenario, the decrease in the fox population may be due to a decrease in its prey availability, resulting in a decrease in competition for the mouse population. However, this scenario does not directly indicate competition for limited resources affecting the mouse population.
C. The deer population on an island rises steadily and then levels out for many years.
This scenario does not provide clear evidence of competition for limited resources. The fact that the deer population rises steadily and then levels out suggests that the population has reached its carrying capacity, where available resources match the population's needs.
D. The population of geese in an area decreases when they migrate south for the winter.
While migration is a natural behavior for many bird species, including geese, it does not directly indicate competition for limited resources. The decrease in geese population is a result of their seasonal migration and not a consequence of resource competition.
Based on the analysis, option A. A population of grasshoppers destroys large fields of crops represents a scenario that shows evidence of competition for limited resources affecting the population of a species.