In a grassland ecosystem, praying mantises catch and eat grasshoppers. However, there has been a significant decrease in the praying mantis population in recent years.

Question

How will this most likely affect the grasshopper population over time?

The population will decrease because grasshoppers are the competition.
The population will increase because grasshoppers are the prey.
The population will increase because grasshoppers are the competition.
The population will decrease because grasshoppers are the prey.

Answer 1

The most likely effect on the grasshopper population over time would be that the population will increase because grasshoppers are the prey.

With a significant decrease in the praying mantis population, there will be fewer predators to catch and eat grasshoppers. This reduction in predation pressure will likely allow the grasshopper population to grow, as more individuals will survive and reproduce without the threat from their natural predator.