Question

Nathan is an ecologist. He’s studying the effect of secondary consumers on primary consumers. His current research focuses on a population of blue jays and crows. They eat caterpillars and mice. If the number of blue jays increases, what are the likely effects on other populations?

Answer 1

Answer: The other population will decrease.

Explanation:  The blue jays and crow eat caterpillar and mice as their food so there number will be significantly maintained in the environment.

If the population of Blue jays increases then rest other population will decrease, as the number of caterpillar and mice will decrease.

As their number will decrease, there will be more competition and less food will be available for the crow.

So, the population of crow will also decrease.

Answer 2

Blue jays have caterpillars and mice as their food. An increase in the blue jay population will cause a decrease in the caterpillar and mice population since more blue jays will eat caterpillars and mice. As time passes, the blue jays will have a problem finding food since the caterpillar and mice population has decreased, so the blue jay population will eventually lower as well.