Question

If hares moved faster and were thus harder for lynx to capture, which rate in the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model would change?

1) Growth rate of hares
2) Death rate of hares
3) Growth rate of lynx
4) Death rate of lynx

Answer 1

If hares moved faster making it harder for the lynx to catch them, the death rate of hares in the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model would decrease. This reflects changes in the predator-prey dynamics and underscores the complexity of such ecological relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

If hares moved faster and were thus harder for lynx to capture, the rate that would change in the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model is the death rate of hares. The model describes the interactions between predators and their prey, and if the prey becomes harder to catch, then fewer of them will be eaten by predators, which equates to a lower death rate for the prey,

In the context of the Lotka-Volterra model and the historical data of lynx and hare populations, a decrease in the death rate of hares due to greater speed would likely translate into a short-term increase in the hare population. However, over time, the lynx may adapt or change their strategies to cope with the quicker hares or turn to alternative food sources, leading to changes in the growth rate of lynx as well. The intricate balance between lynx and hare populations underscores the complexity of predator-prey dynamics and the way in which they can shift due to changes in the characteristics of either population.