Imagine that an ecosystem contains rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following predator-prey relationships exist:

Question

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

deer

rabbit

wolf

fox

Answer 1

The animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem is the wolf.

Wolves are apex predators and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. They regulate the populations of both deer and foxes, which in turn affects the population of rabbits. Without wolves, the populations of deer and foxes could increase unchecked, leading to overgrazing and depletion of vegetation, which would ultimately harm the entire ecosystem.