In a desert ecosystem, coyotes and rattlesnakes both eat the same type of mouse as a primary part of their diets. Recently, coyotes have been hunted and killed by people, decreasing the overall coyote population.

Question

In a desert ecosystem, coyotes and rattlesnakes both eat the same type of mouse as a primary part of their diets. Recently, coyotes have been hunted and killed by people, decreasing the overall coyote population.

How will this most likely affect the rattlesnake population over time?

It will decrease because coyotes are the prey.
It will increase because coyotes are the prey.
It will decrease because coyotes are the competition.
It will increase because coyotes are the competition.

Answer 1

Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
2 hours ago

The most likely effect on the rattlesnake population over time would be that it will increase because coyotes are the competition.

Since both coyotes and rattlesnakes eat the same type of mouse, a decrease in the coyote population would reduce competition for that food source. With fewer coyotes hunting for mice, rattlesnakes may have greater access to food, which could lead to an increase in their population over time.