Resource availability affects populations of organisms in an ecosystem. Other factors such as predators, disease, and weather can also cause changes to populations as well. Evaluate the graph showing the population of moose over time. Infer possible explanations for changes in the population? Choose ALL that apply.
A The moose had abundant food and limited predators in 1970.
B The carrying capacity of the moose population is around 600.
C The carrying capacity of the moose population is around 800.
D There was most likely an increase in predators from 1990 - 2000.
E In 1990, some sort of catastrophic event caused the death of more than half the moose.
A: The moose had abundant food and limited predators in 1970.
B: The carrying capacity of the moose population is around 600.
E: In 1990, some sort of catastrophic event caused the death of more than half the moose.
Explanation:
A: The population of moose increased steadily from 1970 to 1990, indicating that there were abundant food sources and limited predators during this time.
B: The population of moose reached a plateau around 600 in the early 1990s, suggesting that this may be close to the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for moose.
E: There was a significant decrease in the moose population in 1990, suggesting that some catastrophic event, such as disease or severe weather, may have caused the death of a large portion of the population.