Question

this graph shows the beginning-of-year population counts for wolves in yellowstone national park from 1996 to 2023.
yellowstone national park wolf population
in 2008, yellowstone national park was colder than average for most of the year, including a very cold january and december. the following year, 2009, the park had a very cold fall and an exceptionally cold december.
complete the paragraph using information from the graph.
the wolf population size __ during 2008, when temperatures were colder than average, and during 2009, when the fall and winter were exceptionally cold. extreme temperature was and a __ limiting factor for the wolf population.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze 2008 population trend

From the graph, in 2008, the wolf population (compared to prior years like 2007 or after like 2009) shows a peak or high value? Wait, looking at the x - axis (year) and y - axis (number of wolves), in 2008, the population is relatively high (around 170? Wait, the graph: 2005 is ~175, 2006 drops to ~120, 2007 rises to ~170, 2008? Wait, the x - axis labels: 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023. So 2008: the point is around 170? Then 2009: it drops to ~95? Wait, no, 2011 is ~95. Wait, maybe I misread. Let's re - examine: the graph line: from 2005 (175), 2006 (120), 2007 (170), 2008 (170? No, 2008 is a peak? Wait, no, the y - axis is number of wolves. So in 2008, the population is at a high (maybe stable or slightly increasing), then 2009: it drops. Wait, the first blank: "The wolf population size __ during 2008". Looking at the graph, before 2008 (2007) and after (2009), 2008 has a relatively high population. So maybe "peaked" or "remained high" or "was high". Then 2009: the population drops, so "decreased". Then "Extreme temperature was and a __ limiting factor". Extreme temperature is an abiotic factor (since it's a non - living component), and a density - independent limiting factor (because it affects populations regardless of their density).

Step2: Fill in the blanks

First blank (2008): From the graph, the wolf population in 2008 is relatively high (compared to 2009). So "peaked" or "was high" or "remained stable/high". Second blank (2009): The population in 2009 is lower than in 2008, so "decreased". Third blank: Extreme temperature is an "abiotic" factor (non - living). Fourth blank: It's a "density - independent" limiting factor (because temperature affects all individuals regardless of population density).

Wait, maybe the options (since it's a dropdown) are like: for the first blank: "peaked", "increased", "decreased"; second blank: "decreased", "increased", "peaked"; third blank: "abiotic", "biotic"; fourth blank: "density - independent", "density - dependent".

So:

• First blank (2008): The wolf population size peaked (or "was high") during 2008.
• Second blank (2009): decreased during 2009.
• Third blank: Extreme temperature was abiotic (since temperature is a non - living component of the environment).
• Fourth blank: a density - independent limiting factor (because density - independent factors affect populations regardless of their density, like natural disasters, temperature extremes).

Answer:

The wolf population size \(\boldsymbol{\text{peaked}}\) during 2008, when temperatures were colder than average, and \(\boldsymbol{\text{decreased}}\) during 2009, when the fall and winter were exceptionally cold. Extreme temperature was \(\boldsymbol{\text{abiotic}}\) and a \(\boldsymbol{\text{density - independent}}\) limiting factor for the wolf population.