Question

What would most likely happen in the ecosystem shown in the above food web if the fox population significantly increased? A. The population of bees would increase. B. The population of mice would decrease. C. The population of black bears would increase. D. The population of mice would increase.

Answer 1

B. The population of mice would decrease.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given food web, the primary source of food are the plants. Bee, mouse, fox and black bear all the organisms depend on the plants directly and indirectly for their food. A fox and a black bear are omnivore animals that feeds both on plants and other animas. The fox here feeds both on the plant and the mouse. In the situation when the population of fox is increased, the population of mice would decrease at an alarming rate. With the increase in the number of foxes, the stress on the plants and the mice would increase. The foxes would directly eat feed on mice. Also, by feeding on the plants, the foxes will decrease the source of food for the mice too.