Final answer:
An increase in prey population allows for an increase in predator population, leading to a cyclical pattern of predator and prey dynamics according to the Lotka-Volterra model.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a period of low prey and predator populations according to the Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey interactions, the most likely scenario is that an increase in the prey population allows for an increase in the predator population. This interaction follows a cyclical pattern where the prey population size first increases due to less predation pressure. As more food becomes available, the predator population grows.
However, when the predator population reaches a certain threshold, their increased predation on the prey causes the prey population to decline. Subsequently, with fewer prey available, the predator population then begins to decrease due to the scarcity of food. This cycle can repeat indefinitely with the predator numbers lagging behind the prey numbers by one to two years. A common real-world example of this dynamic is the relationship between lynx (predator) and snowshoe hare (prey), as observed in North America.