Question

students are looking for examples that show how competition for limited resources affects populations of organisms. which scenario shows evidence that competition for limited resources affects the population of a species? a. a population of grasshoppers destroys large fields of crops. b. the mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases. c. the deer population on an island rises steadily and then levels out for many years. d. the population of geese in an area decreases when they migrate south for the winter.

Explanation:

In nature, predators and prey have a relationship affected by resource - availability. When the fox (predator) population decreases, there is less predation pressure on mice (prey). This can be seen as a form of competition for survival resources where the reduction in predators allows the prey population to increase. Option A shows grasshoppers as pests, not competition for resources affecting their population. Option C shows a natural population growth and leveling off not related to resource - competition. Option D is about migration, not resource - competition affecting population.

Answer:

B. The mouse population in an area increases as the fox population decreases.