Question

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Between 1907 and 1923, cattle grazing was greatly reduced, mule deer hunting was eliminated, and predators were killed. Over 800 cougars, 20 wolves (most had already been killed in the 1800s), and 7000 coyotes were trapped or shot. In response, the mule deer herd began to increase: By 1915, deer numbers were estimated at 25,000; 50,000 by 1920; and 100,000 by 1923. The removal of the livestock and predators, and the cessation of hunting in 1907 ________. decreased the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer decreased r, allowing more births among Kaibab deer decreased K, allowing more births among Kaibab deer removed the limits on immigration, allowing more deer into the area increased the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer

Answer 1

Answer: increased the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer

Explanation: The removal of livestock means more food as grass is available for the Kaibab deer to feed on. In the same vein, the nonexistence of predators would allow for proliferated growth which in turn would increase the number of deer population on the plateau. What this means is that the Preserve is now able to carry as much deer population as it could going forward thereby increasing the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer which was evident by the increasing figures on the years the deer numbers were estimated.