Question

A recent study has shown an increase in the number of predators in an ecosystem. Which of the following is a possible cause for the growth? a. A decrease in the population of prey it feeds on. b. An increase in the population of prey it feeds on c. A decrease in the biodiversity of the ecosystem d. An increase in the number of predators that feed on it

Answer 1

Answer:

D

Explanation:

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Answer 2

Answer:

b. An increase in the population of prey it feeds on

Explanation:

There's only one way in which the predator population can be growing, and that is if the population of the prey animals is growing as well. The reason for this is that the prey animals are the ones that the predators feed upon, so the less prey animals there are, the less food, thus less predators, and the more prey animals there are, there's more food, thus more predators. It is a predator-prey relationship that directly affects both sides and their numbers. The population of predators will grow as the population of prey animals is growing, but eventually that will stop as the increased number of predators will regulate the prey population, thus reaching an equilibrium in the ecosystem.