Question

question 8 of 10
a beetle species and a mouse species compete for food in an environment.
the beetle species is wiped out by an insect - specific disease.
what is the likely effect of this environmental change on the mouse
population?
a. the mouse population will go extinct as a result of less
competition for food.
b. the mouse population will grow because of less competition for
food.
c. the mouse population will go extinct as a result of more
competition for food.
d. the mouse population will not change because the competition
for food will not significantly change.

Explanation:

When two species compete for the same resource (here, food), if one species (beetles) is removed (due to disease), the remaining species (mice) has less competition. With less competition, mice can access more food resources. According to basic ecological principles, more available resources (in this case, food) generally lead to population growth as there are fewer limitations on survival and reproduction. Options A and C are incorrect as less competition doesn't lead to extinction. Option D is wrong because the competition for food does change (decreases) when beetles are wiped out.

Answer:

B. The mouse population will grow because of less competition for food.