Question

predator-prey population cycle
a predator-prey relationship tends to keep the populations of both species in balance. this is shown by the graph in the figure below. as the prey population increases, there is more food for predators. so, after a slight lag, the predator population increases as well. as the number of predators increases, more prey is captured. as a result, the prey population starts to decrease. what happens to the predator population then?

graph: predator-prey population cycle with prey (red) and predator (blue) population curves over time, labeled fig 5: predator-prey population cycle (ck-12)

1. in a predator-prey population cycle, what do you notice about the prey as the population of the predator increases towards the peak?

your answer:

Explanation:

As predator population nears its peak (more predators), more prey are captured. From the cycle logic and graph, prey population decreases as predator population rises toward its peak.

Answer:

As the predator population increases toward its peak, the prey population decreases (because more predators capture more prey, reducing the prey's numbers).