Question

If all the red-tailed hawks, coyotes, and rattlesnakes are removed from the ecosystem, which best predicts the effect on the population of desert cottontails?

A.
The cottontail population will experience unlimited growth without predators to control their populations.

B.
The cottontail population will experience rapid growth without predators but will eventually stabilize due to a lack of resources.

C.
The cottontail population will experience growth due to an increase in resources but will eventually stabilize due to increased competition.

D.
The cottontail population will experience rapid growth due to a lack of competition for resources.

Answer 1

B.

Removing predators will allow desert cottontails to increase rapidly at first, but they cannot grow indefinitely — food, space, disease and intraspecific competition will impose a carrying capacity, so the population will eventually stabilize.