ECOLOGY
ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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hunt owls and birds
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eat grasses and grains
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disappear from the food web
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eat more rabbits and squirrels
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Detailed explanation-1: -Population Explosions The most obvious result of the removal of the top predators in an ecosystem is a population explosion in the prey species. Predators keep herbivore populations in check. The reverse is also true, of course–predator populations are limited by the availability of prey.
Detailed explanation-2: -The foxes depend on the rabbits as a food source. When there are many rabbits present, the fox population grows. However, when there is a larger fox population, more rabbits are being hunted, so the rabbit population decreases.
Detailed explanation-3: -The foxes, hawks, and owls would have less to eat without the rabbits. As a result, fewer foxes, hawks, and owls would live in the ecosystem because there would be less food for them.
Detailed explanation-4: -If there are no predators and the food source is unlimited, then the population of bunnies will grow in a non-linear fashion.