Imagine that an ecosystem contains rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following predator-prey relationships exist:
Rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves
Deer are eaten by wolves
Foxes are eaten by wolves
Select the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
(1 point)
Responses
fox
fox
wolf
wolf
deer
deer
rabbit
rabbit
1 answer
The absence of wolves would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem because they are the top predator and play a crucial role in regulating the populations of their prey (rabbits and deer) and the predator that feeds on their prey (foxes). Without wolves, the populations of rabbits and/or deer could become overpopulated and cause detrimental effects on the ecosystem such as overgrazing and depletion of resources. Additionally, without wolves, the population of foxes could also become unregulated and negatively impact other species in the ecosystem.