Final answer:
Providing seeds for cedar waxwings in winter likely increases the local carrying capacity for these birds, enabling their population to grow beyond natural levels. As a result, a possible hypothesis for the observed increase in the falcon population is that the larger number of cedar waxwings provides more prey for the falcons, enhancing their numbers as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
The provision of seeds at bird feeders during winter months by bird watchers in Barrie would likely alter the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for cedar waxwings. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably. The addition of food resources through birdfeeders increases the availability of food during winter, allowing the cedar waxwings population to potentially increase beyond the natural carrying capacity of the environment.
Regarding the increase in the falcon population, a plausible hypothesis might be that the enhanced food supply for cedar waxwings has subsequently led to an increase in their population. Falcons, being predators of smaller birds such as waxwings, may find more plentiful prey due to the increase in waxwing numbers, thus supporting a larger falcon population. This relationship reflects an increase in what is known as the predator-prey dynamic, where the predators benefit from an increase in food resources for their prey.