Question

multiple choice 1 point
ten breeding pairs of rabbits are introduced onto an island with no natural predators and a good supply of water and food. what will happen to the population?
it will remain relatively constant due to equal birth and death rates.
it will increase until it exceeds carrying capacity.
it will die out due to an increase in the mutation rate.
it will decrease and then increase indefinitely.

Explanation:

In an ecosystem, when there are no natural predators and sufficient resources (water and food), the population growth of a species (like rabbits here) follows the logistic growth model. Initially, with abundant resources, the population will increase. But as the population grows, it will reach the carrying capacity (the maximum number of individuals the environment can support). At carrying capacity, the birth rate and death rate become approximately equal, leading to a relatively constant population size.

• The first option “It will decrease and then increase indefinitely” is incorrect because without limiting factors (other than carrying capacity which causes stabilization, not indefinite decrease - increase cycle) and with initial resource abundance, this pattern is not expected.
• The second option “It will die out due to an increase in the mutation rate” is wrong. There is no indication in the problem that mutation rate will increase to a level to cause extinction. Resources are available and no predators are present.
• The third option “It will increase until it exceeds carrying capacity” is not fully correct. While the population will increase towards the carrying capacity, in a stable ecosystem (assuming the island's resources - water and food - are in a balance that defines a relatively stable carrying capacity), the population will stabilize at or around the carrying capacity, not exceed it in a sustainable way (if it temporarily exceeds, factors like resource depletion will bring it back, but the long - term trend is stabilization at carrying capacity).

Answer:

It will remain relatively constant due to equal birth and death rates.