Question

this food chain shows organisms in a forest ecosystem. persimmon → pine vole → skunk → gray fox → bobcat use the food chain to complete the text below. if the population of gray foxes decreases, the population of skunks will likely _, and the population of bobcats will likely _.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze predator - prey relationship

Gray foxes eat skunks. If gray fox population decreases, skunks have fewer predators.

Step2: Determine skunk population change

With fewer predators, skunk population will increase.

Step3: Analyze bobcat - gray fox relationship

Bobcats eat gray foxes. If gray fox population decreases, bobcats have less food.

Step4: Determine bobcat population change

With less food, bobcat population will decrease.

Answer:

Increase; Decrease