A population of sagebrush lives in a grassland ecosystem. Over several years, erosion causes the soil of the grassland to have an increasing amount of sand in it. The data below was collected by scientists studying the ecosystem.

Question

Year Percentage of
Sand in Soil Average Height of
Sagebrush (meters) Number of
Sagebrush Plants
1 38 1.15 120
2 42 1.16 129
3 45 1.14 137
4 51 1.15 145

If the soil is 53% sand next year, which of the following is most likely to occur?
A.
The size of the sagebrush population will decline.
B.
The average height of the sagebrush will decrease.
C.
The average height of the sagebrush will increase.
D.
The size of the sagebrush population will increase.

Answer 1

Based on the data you've provided, the average height of the sagebrush has remained relatively stable (around 1.14 to 1.16 meters) even as the percentage of sand in the soil has increased. The number of sagebrush plants has also consistently increased over the years, although there are fluctuations in the average height.

With the trend of the average height not showing a clear increase as the sand content rises, and given that erosion and increased sand content in soil can lead to less favorable growing conditions for plants, it is reasonable to suggest that if the soil reaches 53% sand, it could negatively affect the sagebrush population.

Therefore, among the provided options, the most likely occurrence would be:

A. The size of the sagebrush population will decline.

This choice aligns with the implications of increased sand content negatively impacting plant growth conditions.