Question

In a certain forest ecosystem, there are lions who prey on deer. The deer eat grass. Which of the following would be the consequences of the deer population increasing? (1 point)
Responses

The plant population would decrease.
The plant population would decrease.

The lion population would decrease.
The lion population would decrease.

The lion population would stay the same.
The lion population would stay the same.

The plant population would increase.

Answer 1

If the deer population increases, they would consume more grass, which is their food source. This increased consumption would likely lead to a decrease in the plant (grass) population. Consequently, if the plant population diminishes, it might affect the deer population in the long run, as they may run out of food.

As for the lion population, if the deer population were to increase initially, the lions might have more food available, potentially leading to an increase in their population as well. However, over time, if the grass population decreases significantly, the deer population would likely decline, which would ultimately affect the lions.

Given these considerations, the most immediate and directly correlated outcome of an increase in the deer population is:

**The plant population would decrease.**