Question

4) As much a 25 - 50% of the diet of black bears, scrub jays, and deer is acorns. What would happen to the carrying capacity for squirrels for your study plot if any of these other animals were present? Explain.

Answer 1

The presence of other acorn-consuming animals like black bears, scrub jays, or deer would likely decrease the carrying capacity for squirrels due to increased competition for acorns. This is akin to how seal populations can decline alongside their carrying capacity when food sources drop. Both examples highlight the complex interactions within ecosystems that can significantly affect wildlife populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

If black bears, scrub jays, or deer were present in a study plot, the carrying capacity for squirrels could potentially decrease. This would happen because these animals also consume a significant percentage of acorns, which are a major food source for squirrels. The presence of these additional acorn consumers would increase the competition for food, thus limiting the availability of this resource for the squirrels.

In an ecological context, the carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support indefinitely without being degraded. Comparable to the provided example where the carrying capacity and population of seals would decrease if their major food source declined, the same principle applies to squirrels if their acorn supply were compromised due to increased competition.

Moreover, real-world examples show that changes in predator and prey populations can have cascading effects on ecosystems. Lack of predators may lead to prey population explosions, subsequently altering local vegetation and decreasing biodiversity. Conversely, over-predation, such as seen with killer whales shifting diets due to industrial whaling, can severely diminish populations of sea lions, seals, and otters.

Answer 2

If black bears, scrub jays, and deer consume 25-50% of acorns, the presence of these animals could potentially reduce the availability of acorns for squirrels. This could lead to increased competition for this food source among the different species. As a result, the carrying capacity for squirrels on your study plot might be impacted, potentially limiting the resources available to support the squirrel population. This competition for acorns could influence the overall dynamics of the ecosystem and the populations of each species involved.