Final answer:
The population of Canada lynx in an area may decrease if the population of snowshoe hares in that same area decreases due to their predator-prey relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The population of Canada lynx in one area may decrease if the population of snowshoe hares decreased in that same area due to their predator-prey relationship. Snowshoe hares are the primary food source for Canada lynx, so a decrease in the hare population would result in a decrease in the lynx population as well.
For example, if there is a decrease in the snowshoe hare population, it means there is less food available for the lynx. As a result, the lynx may struggle to find enough food to survive and reproduce, leading to a decline in their population.
This relationship between predator (lynx) and prey (snowshoe hares) is known as predator-prey dynamics, and it is characterized by population cycles where the increase in prey leads to an increase in predators, which then leads to a decrease in prey population and a subsequent decrease in predator population.