Question

base your answers to questions 65 through 67 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. the photograph shows a canada lynx, a mammal native to north america.
lynx are found in areas where there is deep, soft snow cover during the winter months. the body design of the canada lynx helps keep the animal on top of the soft snow. several unique characteristics, such as the design of its feet and its weight, enable the cat to successfully chase and catch snowshoe hares, its primary source of food. snowshoe hares are also able to remain on top of the snow.
increased winter recreation has created packed snow trails in lynx habitat. this allows coyotes and cougars to compete with lynx.

1. explain why coyotes were not in competition with the lynx prior to the presence of packed snow trails. 1

1. describe the niche that the lynx, coyote, and cougar are competing to fill. 1

1. explain how the carrying capacity affects the number of predators in an area. 1

Explanation:

Question 65

Before packed snow trails, coyotes likely couldn't move effectively on deep, soft snow (unlike lynx with adapted feet/weight to stay on snow). So they couldn't access the lynx's hunting area (for snowshoe hares) to compete.

The niche is being a predator of snowshoe hares (and other prey in the lynx - inhabited, snow - covered area), using the snow - covered habitat to hunt, with competition now possible due to packed trails.

Carrying capacity is the max population an area can support. If prey (e.g., snowshoe hares) carrying capacity rises, more predators (lynx, coyote, cougar) can be supported. If it falls, predator numbers decrease as resources (prey) are limited.

Answer:

Coyotes could not move effectively on deep, soft snow (lacking lynx - like adaptations to stay on snow), so they couldn't access the lynx's hunting habitat (for snowshoe hares) to compete.

Question 66