Kit Fox Ecology

Question

The San Joaquin kit fox is a small fox, about the size of a house cat. It is native to the San Joaquin Valley, which is the southern part of California's Central Valley. Table 1 shows some characteristics of San Joaquin kit foxes. In the 1800s, the San Joaquin Valley of California was mostly open grassland and marshes with a few sparsely wooded areas.

In the 1800s, the San Joaquin Valley of California was mostly open grassland and marshes with a few sparsely wooded areas. Today, humans have changed much of the Central Valley for agricultural and urban use. Figure 1 shows the results of a study about how a portion of Fresno County in the Central Valley Changed over time.

These changes in the Central Valley led to a decline in the San Joaquin kit fox population, and the species was placed on the endangered species list in1967. In addition to the changes in land use in the Central Valley, kit foxes are threatened by other factors, such as climate change and predators.Scientists have noted that as the San Joaquin kit fox population has declined, the populations of some of its predators, such as coyotes, have increased.The outlook for the kit fox is poor unless serious human intervention occurs The human population in the Central Valley is expected to grow over the next two decades. The added pressure of more people could possibly create an even worse situation for the remaining population of kit foxes. Humans have been trying to save kit foxes for decades. Map 1 shows where kit foxes are most often seen in Fresno County.

Question 1
Use the information in Table 1 and Figure 1 to answer the question. Which change is most responsible for the decline of the kit fox population?(1 point)
Responses

an increase in predator habitat due to reduced competition
an increase in predator habitat due to reduced competition

a reduction in carrying capacity due to habitat loss
a reduction in carrying capacity due to habitat loss

a reduction in carrying capacity due to decreased temperatures
a reduction in carrying capacity due to decreased temperatures

an increase in insect populations due to agriculture
an increase in insect populations due to agriculture
Question 2
Use the information in Figure 1 to answer the questions.
Part A
Which claim about changes in biodiversity in the San Joaquin Valley is supported by the information in Figure 1?(1 point)
Responses

Biodiversity has increased because woodlands have been removed.
Biodiversity has increased because woodlands have been removed.

Biodiversity has increased because of the expansion of agriculture.
Biodiversity has increased because of the expansion of agriculture.

Biodiversity has decreased because a variety of habitats have been reduced.
Biodiversity has decreased because a variety of habitats have been reduced.

Biodiversity has decreased because species have migrated out of the valley.
Biodiversity has decreased because species have migrated out of the valley.
Question 3
Part B
Which statement best explains why biodiversity is important for all life on Earth?(1 point)
Responses

High biodiversity changes an ecosystem by reducing the survival rate of all but the individuals best suited to an area.
High biodiversity changes an ecosystem by reducing the survival rate of all but the individuals best suited to an area.

Low biodiversity prevents the loss of species by increasing the types of organisms that can live in one area.
Low biodiversity prevents the loss of species by increasing the types of organisms that can live in one area.

High biodiversity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by reducing the rate at which species become extinct.
High biodiversity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by reducing the rate at which species become extinct.

Low biodiversity results in stable ecosystems by increasing competition for resources among individuals.
Low biodiversity results in stable ecosystems by increasing competition for resources among individuals.
Question 4
Which human intervention would most likely protect and maintain kit fox populations?(1 point)
Responses

Protect grasslands and prairies from development.
Protect grasslands and prairies from development.

Move kit foxes to sparsely populated mountainous regions.
Move kit foxes to sparsely populated mountainous regions.

Introduce a species that could be a new kit fox food source.
Introduce a species that could be a new kit fox food source.

Move kit foxes to areas with large populations of similar mammals.

Answer 1

Here are the answers to the provided questions based on the information regarding the San Joaquin kit fox and its ecology:

Question 1: Which change is most responsible for the decline of the kit fox population?

• Response: a reduction in carrying capacity due to habitat loss

Question 2: Part A - Which claim about changes in biodiversity in the San Joaquin Valley is supported by the information in Figure 1?

• Response: Biodiversity has decreased because a variety of habitats have been reduced.

Question 3: Part B - Which statement best explains why biodiversity is important for all life on Earth?

• Response: High biodiversity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by reducing the rate at which species become extinct.

Question 4: Which human intervention would most likely protect and maintain kit fox populations?

• Response: Protect grasslands and prairies from development.

These answers reflect the ecological challenges faced by the San Joaquin kit fox and the corresponding impacts of changes in land use and biodiversity.