Question

How does the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for the white footed mouse respond to the changes in the amount of parasites? Compare graph 1 and graph 2 to help you answer the question, cite the data to support your answer (give numbers)

Answer 1

Answer:

See the answer below

Explanation:

The carrying capacity of the ecosystem for the white-footed mouse reduced in response to the changes in the amount of worm infected mice in the population.

The carrying capacity of an ecosystem for a particular population of organisms is the maximum number of organisms the ecosystem can support based on the resources it has.

The ideal carrying capacity of the ecosystem for the white-footed mouse oscillates between 36 to 40 in graph 1. The carrying capacity range reduced in graph 2 from 36 - 40 to 30 - 36 as a result of changes made to the number of mice infected with parasitic worms in the population of the animal.

Thus, the introduction of more worm-infected mice into the population probably put more pressure on the ecosystem resources thereby reducing the carrying capacity.