White-tailed deer live in forested areas and eat plants. Space is a limiting factor for all organisms. White-tailed deer in a forest ecosystem are using all of the space available in this ecosystem.

Question

If there is a large increase in the amount of plants available in the area for the deer to eat, what will most likely happen to the population of white-tailed deer in this ecosystem?
A.
It will decrease immediately because the deer will stop eating plants and begin feeding on other animals.
B.
It will increase forever because food is the only important need of an organism.
C.
It will increase at first, but the deer will become overcrowded, causing the population to decrease.
D.
It will not change because food is not an important factor for population growth in deer.

Answer 1

The most likely outcome of a large increase in the amount of plants available in the area for the deer to eat is:

C. It will increase at first, but the deer will become overcrowded, causing the population to decrease.

Initially, the increased food supply can support a larger deer population, leading to growth in their numbers. However, as the population increases, competition for space and resources may lead to overcrowding, which can negatively affect the population due to factors such as limited space and increased stress, ultimately resulting in a population decline.