Imagine that an ecosystem contains rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following predator-prey relationships exist:
Rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves
Deer are eaten by wolves
Foxes are eaten by wolves
Select the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
The animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem is the wolf. Wolves play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem by controlling the populations of rabbits, foxes, and deer. Without wolves, the populations of rabbits and foxes would increase rapidly, leading to overgrazing of vegetation and potential loss of habitat for other species. Additionally, the absence of wolves would also result in an unchecked increase in the deer population, which could lead to overpopulation, deforestation, and depletion of resources. Overall, the absence of wolves would have a cascading negative effect on the entire ecosystem.
