Question

In this ecosystem, pollution and human activities have caused a rapid decrease in the population of eagles. At the same time, a virus has caused the population of rabbits to decline. Based on this information, what changes are most likely to occur in the ecosystem?

Answer 1

The question is incomplete as it does not have the attached figure and the options which are:

A.) The population of frogs will decrease because of increased predation by snakes.

B.) The population of storks will increase because of decreased competition with eagles.

C.) The population of gnats will decrease because of a decrease in the amount of grass available.

D.) The population of grass will decrease because of increased predation by rabbits.

E.) The population of snakes will increase because of decreased predation by eagles.

Answer:

Option-A and E

Explanation:

In the given question, a structure of a complex food web has been provided in which the organism present at the different trophic level are affected by different factors including-

1. The population of Eagles (top consumer) has decreased due to human activities. Since the number of eagles has declined therefore the number of organisms on which it feeds will increase (snakes in the given question) due to no predation.

2. The population of rabbits (primary consumer) has decreased due to a virus. Since the number of rabbits will decline therefore the snakes will now shift eat more frogs and therefore the number of frogs will decline.

Thus, the selected options are correct.