Question

A population of mice occupies a tree stump in a forest. During the last decade, there has been little change in the number of mice in the population. Which of the following would likely cause the number of mice to decrease quickly?

A a decrease in disease
B an increase in predation
C a decrease in competition
D an increase in length of mating season

Answer 1

If a population of mice occupies a tree stump in a forest and the number of mice has decreased, it is likely due to an increase in predation. The answer is letter B. When a mouse is in the forest, it will be part of the ecosystem there. When it looks for food, they can also become food for other animals.

Answer 2

The correct answer would be B an increase in predation.

Predation is one of the many biological interactions in which one organism is benefited and other is harmed. In this interaction, one organism kills the other one to get nutrition out of it.

The one who kills is known as predator and the one who is killed is known as prey.

In nature, mice serves as a prey for many organisms such as snake, owl, hawk, cat, dog etc. Hence, there are concrete chances of increased predation of mice in an area.

Other reasons for the decrease in a population of any organism in nature can be: increased competition, habitat destruction, mutation, new disease or fast rate of transmission of disease etc.