NEET BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY

ECOSYSTEM

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
As the number of avaliable prey increases, you would expect the number of predators to ____
A
Increase
B
Decrease
C
Stay the same
D
The number of predators is random
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -A predator-prey relationship tends to keep the populations of both species in balance. This is shown by the graph in Figure below. As the prey population increases, there is more food for predators. So, after a slight lag, the predator population increases as well.

Detailed explanation-2: -As their source of food increases, predators rise in abundance. When there are enough predators, prey numbers decline. With a scarcity of food, the number of predators crashes and the cycle repeats.

Detailed explanation-3: -The number of predators increases when there is more prey. The number of prey reduces when there are more predators.

Detailed explanation-4: -Peaks and valleys can be easily observed at roughly 8-10 year intervals. Logic and mathematical theory suggest that when prey are numerous their predators increase in numbers, reducing the prey population, which in turn causes predator number to decline. The prey population eventually recovers, starting a new cycle.

Detailed explanation-5: -Predator-prey cycles are based on a feeding relationship between two species: if the prey species rapidly multiplies, the number of predators increases–until the predators eventually eat so many prey that the prey population dwindles again.

There is 1 question to complete.