The following food web shows the relationships in an ecosystem.

Question

In this ecosystem, trees are being cut down for lumber. Based on the food web, which of the following populations could be affected by fewer trees in the ecosystem?
A.
The shrub population would decrease because deer would be eating more shrubs.
B.
The fungi population would increase because there would be more hawks.
C.
The mountain lion population would increase because there would be more deer.
D.
The deer population would increase because they have more sources of food.
Part B
Multiple Select Question
Using the food web from Part A, which of the following solutions would help restore the natural balance of the ecosystem which was disrupted by the cutting of trees for lumber?
A.
Introduce another predator into the area.
B.
Plant other trees for the deer and the squirrel.
C.
Lengthen the deer hunting season from four months to six months.
D.
Plant more shrubs for the deer and rabbits to eat.

Answer 1

Part A:

Based on the food web, the correct answer regarding which population could be affected by fewer trees in the ecosystem is:

A. The shrub population would decrease because deer would be eating more shrubs.

The removal of trees would likely lead to an increase in the deer population due to a reduction in competition for resources (if trees also competed with shrubs for nutrients). More deer could mean they would consume more shrubs, leading to a decrease in the shrub population.

Part B:

To help restore the natural balance of the ecosystem disrupted by the cutting of trees for lumber, the solutions that could be effective are:

B. Plant other trees for the deer and the squirrel.
D. Plant more shrubs for the deer and rabbits to eat.

These actions would help restore food sources for deer and other herbivores affected by the tree removal, thereby supporting the overall ecosystem balance.

A. Introduce another predator into the area. could disrupt the food web further if not carefully considered.

C. Lengthen the deer hunting season from four months to six months. could lead to a reduction in the deer population, but if the deer are already stressed due to a lack of food, this could further destabilize the ecosystem instead of restoring balance.