Question

the wolf population in yellowstone national park in the early twentieth century was between 300 and 400 individuals. hunters reported killing about 136 wolves. by the middle of the twentieth century, wolves were no longer found in yellowstone. given that hunters didnt kill all of the wolves, what is the best explanation for why the wolf population in yellowstone died out? the remaining wolves were more susceptible to disease. the population reached carrying capacity. the population depleted its resources and could no longer live in yellowstone. wolves are r - selected species that experience rapid decreases in population size. the population dropped below the minimum viable population size.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: There's no info suggesting remaining wolves were more disease - susceptible. Hunters killing wolves is the main factor here, not disease susceptibility. So A is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option B: Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can support. If the population reached carrying capacity, it should be stable or increase, not die out. So B is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option C: Wolves are predators, and there's no indication they depleted resources. The main issue is hunting, not resource depletion. So C is incorrect.
4. Analyze Option D: Wolves are K - selected (not r - selected) species, which have stable populations and invest in offspring care. So D is incorrect.
5. Analyze Option E: Minimum viable population (MVP) is the smallest population size that can survive. After hunters killed 136 wolves from a 300 - 400 population, the remaining population may have dropped below MVP, leading to extinction. This fits the scenario.

Answer:

E. The population dropped below the minimum viable population size.