Question

examine the food web to answer the question.
if disease rapidly kills off the rabbit and deer populations, what will most likely happen to the mountain lion population?
it will increase because the snake and shrew populations will rapidly increase.
it will increase because there will be more grass, shrubs, and trees for food sources.
it will decrease because the snake population will increase which are predators.
it will decrease because they will compete with hawks for snakes and shrews.

Explanation:

In a food web, if the prey (rabbit and deer) of the mountain lion die off, the mountain lion has less food. Hawks also eat snakes and shrews. So, the mountain lion will compete with hawks for these remaining food sources (snakes and shrews). This competition will make it harder for the mountain lion to get enough food, likely leading to a decrease in its population.

Answer:

It will decrease because they will compete with hawks for snakes and shrews.