Final answer:
The removal of the snake population from an ecosystem would likely lead to an increase in the mouse population, since snakes are natural predators of mice. This could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem by affecting plant populations and potentially other predator-prey relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the snake population is removed from the ecosystem, there would be consequences for the populations of other organisms within that system. Snakes often serve as predators to small mammals such as mice. Without predation pressure from snakes, the mouse population would likely increase due to decreased natural predation. This could lead to overgrazing or depletion of resources that the mice consume, which may impact plant populations and the overall balance of the ecosystem. Increases in the mouse population may not lead to a direct increase in the hawk population if hawks also prey upon snakes, or if the carrying capacity of the ecosystem limits hawk population growth.
Historical examples that illustrate similar dynamics include the lynx and hare population cycles, where the lynx, a predator, exerts control over the hare population. When the lynx population is low, the hare population size tends to increase. Another example involves selective pressures on a population of rodents living near the Arctic Circle, balancing the need for small size to hide from predators with retaining enough body mass to maintain internal temperatures in cold climates.