Did you know?
Did you know that in an island ecosystem, the population size of the hawk is usually the smallest? This is because the hawk is positioned at the top of the food chain, preying on the songbird, which in turn preys on the beetle. As energy is transferred through each level of the food chain, only a fraction is actually passed on, leading to a decrease in population size at higher trophic levels. The beetle, being at the bottom of the chain, often has the largest population due to its ability to feed on the plentiful shrubby plants. Understanding the dynamics of population sizes within an ecosystem helps us appreciate the delicate balance and interdependence of species within our natural world.