Question

The Iberian Lynx is a large cat that is native to Spain and Portugal. Over the last few decades, the lynxes' main food source, rabbits, have contracted a disease called myxomatosis. Myxomatosis causes death in rabbits. How would this most likely affect the population of the lynx in the coming years?
A.The lynx population would decrease since they won't have access to as much food


B.The lynx population would remain the same because they would adapt to eating other food


C.The lynx population would increase because they would produce more offspring to make up the difference


D.The lynx population would decrease because they would also contract the disease

Answer 1

The answer would be A. The lynx population would decrease since they won't have much access to food. When the rabbits die, the lynx would lack enough food to sustain themselves and hence die. The lack of food will also reduce the rate of mating and the chances of offspring survival. This will greatly decrease the population of the lynx.