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.
A.deer
B. wolf
C. rabbit
D. fox
B. wolf
The absence of wolves would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem. Wolves play a crucial role in regulating populations of both rabbits and deer, as they are predators of both species. Without wolves, the populations of rabbits and deer would likely increase rapidly, leading to overgrazing and depletion of resources, which could ultimately lead to the collapse of the ecosystem. Additionally, foxes are also prey for wolves, so the absence of wolves could lead to an increase in the fox population, which could further disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.