1. The following shows a food web that was present on the Channel Islands 200 years ago. From the information presented in the article, sketch the following animals into this food web to show how the food web might look today: feral pigs, golden eagles.
skunk
SKUNK FOX
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Insects Lizards
birds Mice
2. Why do ecologists blame feral pigs for the decline in the fox populations on the Channel Islands?
3. What does apparent competition mean? How is it different from direct competition? Which two animal species were involved in apparent competition?
4. Why didn’t the pig population or the skunk population decline?
5. Why do ecologists think that eradicating feral pigs from the Channel Islands will help the fox populations to rebound?
please help :( (I have a D in biology)
i believe cats, foxes, pigs, etc. should not be mutilated:) thanks appreciate it
By the way, skunk eats insects and birds and the fox eats the lizards and mice
I'd be happy to help you with these questions! Let's break them down one by one:
1. To sketch the animals into the food web to show how it might look today, we need to consider the interactions and relationships between the different organisms. Based on the information given, we can add the feral pigs, golden eagles, and skunk into the food web. Here's how it might look:
Feral pigs Golden Eagles
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Skunk Fox
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Insects Lizards
birds Mice
2. Ecologists blame feral pigs for the decline in the fox populations on the Channel Islands because feral pigs are known to prey on foxes and compete with them for resources such as food and habitat. This competition and predation can lead to a decrease in the fox population.
3. Apparent competition refers to a situation where two species are indirectly competing with each other through a third species. It occurs when two species share a common resource that affects their survival or reproduction, leading to changes in their populations. Apparent competition is different from direct competition because in direct competition, two species are competing with each other directly for the same resource. In this case, the two animal species involved in apparent competition are the golden eagles and the foxes, as they both compete for the same prey, such as small mammals like mice.
4. The pig population or the skunk population might not have declined because they may have different ecological niches or adaptations that allow them to thrive. For example, feral pigs are generalist feeders and can utilize a wide range of food sources, while skunks have defensive mechanisms that protect them from predation. These factors could contribute to their populations remaining stable or even increasing.
5. Ecologists think that eradicating feral pigs from the Channel Islands will help the fox populations rebound because it will remove a major source of competition and predation for the foxes. Without the presence of feral pigs, the foxes will have more access to food resources and may experience less pressure on their population. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in their population size.
Remember, it's important to understand the concepts and reasoning behind the answers, so I encourage you to explore the topics further and ask more questions if needed. Good luck with your biology studies!
We do not do your homework for you. Although it might take more effort to do the work on your own, you will profit more from your effort. We will be happy to evaluate your work though.
No food web shown. Cannot copy and paste here.