Question

Suppose that, instead of the results actually obtained in Brown and Davidson's experiments, the number of rodents in the ant-excluded treatment was roughly the same as the number of rodents in the control group, and the number of ants in the rodent-excluded treatment was roughly the same as the number of ants in the control group. Which of the following would you then conclude?

1) Competition is asymmetrical, with rodents affecting ants more than ants affect rodents.
2) The two species have reduced competition through resource partitioning.
3) Competition is asymmetrical, with rodents affecting ants less than ants affect rodents.
4) There has been a competitive reversal.

Answer 1

The number of rodents in the ant-excluded treatment being roughly the same as the control group, and the number of ants in the rodent-excluded treatment being roughly the same as the control group, would suggest that competition is asymmetrical, with rodents affecting ants less than ants affect rodents.Thus the correct option is 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the conclusions that can be made if the number of rodents in the ant-excluded treatment and the number of ants in the rodent-excluded treatment are roughly the same as the control group. Based on the information provided, this scenario would imply that competition is asymmetrical with rodents affecting ants less than ants affect rodents. In this case, the rodents are not significantly impacted by the absence of ants, indicating that the rodents have a greater ability to survive and thrive without direct competition from ants. Therefore, the correct answer to the question would be option 3) Competition is asymmetrical, with rodents affecting ants less than ants affect rodents.