Chapter 8. Chapter 8: Population Ecology
What role do predators play in regulating populations...?
Guiding Question 8.5
What role do predators play in regulating populations, and how can the presence or absence of predators affect entire communities?
Why You Should Care
Chances are that you or someone you know has dealt with the problem of too few predators. In eastern North America, white-tailed deer are becoming overpopulated and are a major nuisance to homeowners. In the Rockies, elk numbers are rising, too. In both cases, this increase in population is the result of not having enough predators. The high density of deer is having a negative impact on ecosystems because the higher populations are eating too much of the local vegetation, some of which contains endangered or threatened plants. Deer may also inhibit the regeneration of forests when they browse too heavily on tree seedlings, leaving no young trees to replace older ones.
1.
The effect of the wolf population size on an ecosystem that is adapted to wolves is ________ the effect of most other predators.
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Activity results are being submitted...