Skip to main content

What would happen to the mice if all of the foxes left this ecosystem?

In an ecosystem, there are food chains and a food web, which is composed of interconnected food chains. Each organism, in an ecosystem, is part of a food chain and the food web. If any change takes place at any trophic level in a food chain, the results are significant, while those in a food web are relatively mild. 


For example, mice are common prey for foxes. If all the foxes are removed from the...

In an ecosystem, there are food chains and a food web, which is composed of interconnected food chains. Each organism, in an ecosystem, is part of a food chain and the food web. If any change takes place at any trophic level in a food chain, the results are significant, while those in a food web are relatively mild. 


For example, mice are common prey for foxes. If all the foxes are removed from the ecosystem, mice will have less predators. Remember that foxes are not the only predators of mice and in a food web, all the prey and predator are connected to each other. Thus, the removal of foxes will reduce the total predator count, not reduce it to 0. A reduction in the predator population will cause an increase in the mice population. More mice will mean more food for other predators of mice (say snakes) and thus the snake population will also rise. An increase in the mice population will also cause a reduction in the food of mice, since more mice will eat more food. Thus, for a brief duration, the food of mice will be under stress, while the population of mice and other predators of mice will increase. However, a new equilibrium will soon be established between mice and their other predators and the ecosystem will continue to function without major modifications.


Hope this helps. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more