Question

consumers, and decomposers including the positive and negative consequences of such interactions including: coexistence and cooperation, competition (predator/prey), parasitism, and mutualism. prompt # 1 smart start scientists studied a forest ecosystem and recorded population changes in three species over five years, as shown in the table below. what patterns do you notice in the relationship between the deer, wolves, and oak trees? how does the decline of one group affect the others?

year	deer population	wolf population	oak tree growth
2	600	18	medium
3	750	15	low
4	900	10	very low
5	1100	5	none

2 a scientist observed two species of birds in a wetland:

• species a eats small insects in tall grasses.
• species b eats small insects in the muddy shoreline.
• when more tall grasses grow, species a increases while species b stays the same.
• when the shoreline expands, species b increases, but species a remains the same.

based on the data, do these two species compete with each other, or do they coexist? how can you tell?

Explanation:

Prompt 1

Step1: Analyze Deer and Wolf Populations

Deer population: Year 1: 500, Year 2: 600, Year 3: 750, Year 4: 900, Year 5: 1100 (increasing). Wolf population: Year 1: 20, Year 2: 18, Year 3: 15, Year 4: 10, Year 5: 5 (decreasing).

Step2: Analyze Deer and Oak Tree Growth

Oak tree growth: Year 1: High, Year 2: Medium, Year 3: Low, Year 4: Very Low, Year 5: None (decreasing as deer increase).

Step3: Relate Decline Effects

Wolf decline → less predation on deer → deer increase. Deer increase → more oak tree consumption → oak growth declines.

Species A and B eat small insects but in different habitats (tall grasses vs. muddy shoreline). Changes in one habitat (e.g., tall grasses growing) only affect the species in that habitat (Species A), not the other (Species B), and vice versa. This shows they don't compete for resources and can coexist.

Answer:

• Pattern: Deer population increases, wolf population decreases, oak tree growth declines.
• Effect: Wolf decline increases deer, which reduces oak tree growth.

Prompt 2