Question

prompt #3
a city plans to expand into a nearby forested area, reducing available space for local wildlife. predict how this reduction in habitat (space as an abiotic factor) could impact the populations of deer and their predators in the ecosystem.

prompt #4
on an island, space can often be a limiting factor. explain what you think would happen to the organisms in the island’s ecosystem if a hurricane caused erosion that reduced the size of an island to half its original size.

Explanation:

Prompt #3

Habitat reduction (abiotic factor) for deer: Less space means less food (plants) and shelter. Deer population may decline due to competition, predation, or inability to find resources. For deer predators (e.g., wolves, coyotes), fewer deer mean less prey, so predator populations may also decline as they struggle to find food. The ecosystem balance is disrupted.

Island size reduction (space limiting factor) reduces habitat. Organisms face more competition for resources (food, shelter, space). Species with larger space needs or lower resource efficiency may decline or go extinct. Predator - prey dynamics shift; smaller populations are more vulnerable to extinction. Overall biodiversity and population sizes decrease as the ecosystem’s carrying capacity drops.

Answer:

Deer population may decrease due to reduced food/shelter from habitat loss. Their predators, with less prey, will likely also decline, disrupting the ecosystem.

Prompt #4