Question

Unwanted dumping of chemicals has caused pollution in a particular region, leading to a decrease in the number of insects. Bluebirds feed on these insects, and bigger birds prey on the bluebirds. What effect would this situation likely have on the population of the bluebirds and their predators?

A. The population of bluebirds will decrease, but the number of predators will increase.
B. The population of bluebirds will increase, but the number of predators will decrease.
C. The population of bluebirds and the number of predators will increase.
D. The population of bluebirds will decrease, leading to an eventual decrease in the number of predators.
E. The population of bluebirds and the number of predators will not be affected.

Answer 1

The answer is: D. The population of bluebirds will decrease, leading to an eventual decrease in the number of predators.

The unwanted dumping of chemicals causes a decrease in the number of insects. The insects are eaten by bluebirds, but if there is not enough food for the bluebirds, they will die- decrease of birds. If there are less bluebirds, their predators will have less food, so many of them will also die.