To determine which animal's absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem, we can analyze the predator-prey relationships:
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Rabbits: They are a prey species for both foxes and wolves. If rabbits were removed, foxes and wolves would lose a primary food source, which could lead to decreased populations of these predators.
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Foxes: They prey on rabbits and are also preyed upon by wolves. If foxes were removed, wolves would theoretically have one less competitor for rabbits but would continue to prey on them. However, the removal of foxes might lead to an increase in rabbit populations.
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Wolves: They are at the top of this food chain and prey upon rabbits, deer, and foxes. If wolves were removed, there may be a population explosion of both rabbits and foxes, leading to overgrazing and possibly harming the ecosystem's balance.
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Deer: They are only preyed upon by wolves. Their removal would impact wolves directly, but it might have a less cascading effect on the overall ecosystem compared to the absence of wolves.
Considering these interdependencies, the absence of wolves would likely have the most significant negative effect because they control the populations of both deer and foxes, as well as rabbits indirectly. Without wolves, the balance of the ecosystem would be disrupted, leading to overpopulation of certain prey species and potential degradation of the environment.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
wolf