Question

What type of feedback loop is described in the steps below? Wolf (predator) population declines from overhunting, Rabbit (prey) population goes up due to a lack of predators, More wolves move into the area, Rabbit population decreases, Predator population increases."

a) Positive feedback loop
b) Negative feedback loop
c) Neutral feedback loop
d) Circular feedback loop

Answer 1

The example provided describes a negative feedback loop in the context of predator-prey dynamics, where the rise and fall of wolf and rabbit populations maintain an equilibrium state.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sequence of events described involves a situation where the wolf population decreases, leading to an increase in the rabbit population. This abundance of rabbits then attracts more wolves to the area, which in turn reduces the rabbit population, and so on.

This process is an example of a negative feedback loop. In a negative feedback loop, changes in the system lead to a response that tends to push the system back towards a stable state or equilibrium. In the case of the wolf and rabbit populations, the increase in one population leads to a decrease in the other, maintaining a balance over time. This is different from a positive feedback loop, where the effects of a change are amplified, pushing the system further away from equilibrium. A circular feedback loop is not a standard designation in this context, and a neutral feedback loop does not appropriately describe dynamic biological systems.