Question

1. (a) how would the food web in figure 10 change if the red fox were killed off by rabies? (b) what species would benefit? (c) what species might decline?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze removal of red - fox

The red - fox preys on rabbit, mouse and squirrel. Without red - fox, their predation pressure is reduced.

Step2: Identify species that benefit

Rabbit, mouse and squirrel would benefit as they have one less predator.

Step3: Identify species that might decline

Since rabbit, mouse and squirrel populations may increase, the food sources they rely on (grasses, berries, tree seeds) might decline due to increased consumption. Also, the hawk might face some decline in food availability if the increase in rabbit, mouse and squirrel is not sufficient to compensate for the loss of red - fox as a prey source.

Answer:

(a) The predation pressure on rabbit, mouse and squirrel would decrease. The food web would have one less predator.
(b) Rabbit, mouse, squirrel.
(c) Grasses, berries, tree seeds, hawk.