Question

review the chart, which shows the population sizes of three african animals in 1990 and in 2000.
population estimates of animals in africa in 1990 and in 2000
\t\t1990\t2000
lions\t100,000\t47,000
cheetahs\t25,000\t7,500
zebras\t750,000\t450,000
which explanation is best supported by the numbers in the chart?
○ lion and cheetah populations compete for the food source of zebras, and lions outcompete cheetahs.
○ the dwindling zebra population has led to the decline of the predator lion and cheetah populations.
○ overhunting of lion and cheetah populations has led to a decline in the food source population.
○ lion and cheetah populations compete for the food source of zebras, and cheetahs outcompete lions.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the population trends: Lions (100,000→47,000), Cheetahs (25,000→7,500), Zebras (750,000→450,000) all decreased.
2. Evaluate each option:

• Option 1: Lions’ population decline is less severe than cheetahs’ (from 100k to 47k vs 25k to 7.5k), suggesting lions outcompete cheetahs for zebra (prey) resources. This aligns with predator - prey and inter - predator competition logic.
• Option 2: Zebra population decline (prey) could lead to predator (lion, cheetah) decline, but the competition aspect between lions and cheetahs is missing, and the data shows lions’ decline is less than cheetahs’, which is better explained by competition in Option 1.
• Option 3: Overhunting of predators (lions, cheetahs) would not directly cause prey (zebra) decline; the data shows zebra also declined, so this is inconsistent.
• Option 4: Cheetahs’ population declined more than lions’, so they did not outcompete lions. This is incorrect.

Answer:

Lion and cheetah populations compete for the food source of zebras, and lions outcompete cheetahs.