Antelope are hunted by both crocodiles and lions. When antelope bend down to drink water, they are vulnerable to lions on land and crocodiles in the water. The lions hide in the grass and ambush them, while the crocodiles hide in the water and ambush them.

Question

Which environmental change would cause the crocodiles to lose the competition for food?

(1 point)
Responses

monsoon

drought

wildfire

flood

Answer 1

The environmental change that would most likely cause the crocodiles to lose the competition for food is a drought.

During a drought, water levels in rivers and ponds decrease, making it more difficult for crocodiles to hide and ambush antelope when they come to drink. Additionally, as the available water sources dwindle, antelope may have fewer opportunities to drink, which would further reduce the crocodiles' chances of successfully hunting them. In contrast, monsoons or floods would increase water availability, potentially benefiting crocodiles by providing more opportunities to ambush prey. Wildfires could also reduce the number of antelope in the long term but would not directly impair the crocodiles' ambush strategy in water.