Question

read the passage. then answer the question below.
the rocks and sand in the monument valley desert are rust colored, because they are rich in iron. the desert is located in the navajo nation, on the border between arizona and utah.
this hot, dry desert is home to three species of jackrabbits: the antelope jackrabbit, the white - tailed jackrabbit, and the black - tailed jackrabbit. all three of these jackrabbit species eat grasses, and the antelope and black - tailed jackrabbits sometimes eat cacti. jackrabbits are hunted by mountain lions and red - tailed hawks.
in the monument valley desert, the antelope jackrabbits, the white - tailed jackrabbits, and the black - tailed jackrabbits make up which of the following? select all that apply.
a population
part of a community
part of an ecosystem

Explanation:

1. For "a population": A population is a group of individuals of the same species in a given area. Here, the three jackrabbit species are different species, so they don't form a single population. But wait, no—wait, the question is about the three species together. Wait, no, actually, each species is a population, but together? Wait, no, let's recall: A population is all individuals of one species in a place. A community is all populations (species) in a place. An ecosystem is community plus abiotic factors.

• The three jackrabbit species: each is a population, but together, are they part of a community? Yes, because a community is all the different populations (species) in an area. Also, an ecosystem includes the community plus the abiotic (non - living) factors (like rocks, sand, climate).
• Wait, the first option: "a population"—a population is one species. Since there are three species, they can't be a single population. But the other two: "part of a community"—the community in the desert includes all species (jackrabbits, mountain lions, red - tailed hawks, plants like grasses and cacti, etc.). So the jackrabbits are part of that community. "Part of an ecosystem"—the ecosystem includes the living (community) and non - living (rocks, sand, climate) components of the desert. So the jackrabbits, being part of the community, are also part of the ecosystem.
• Wait, maybe I made a mistake earlier. Let's re - define:
• Population: Group of organisms of the same species living in the same area. So each jackrabbit species is a population. But the three species together are multiple populations.
• Community: All the populations (of different species) that live and interact in a particular area. So the jackrabbits (three populations) plus mountain lions, hawks, plants, etc., make up the community. So the jackrabbits are part of the community.
• Ecosystem: A community of organisms and their physical (abiotic) environment. So the jackrabbits, as part of the community, are also part of the ecosystem.
• So the three jackrabbit species (multiple populations) are part of the community (since community is all populations in the area) and part of the ecosystem (since ecosystem is community + abiotic factors). The first option, "a population", is incorrect because it's three different species (so three populations, not one).

1. So the correct options are "part of a community" and "part of an ecosystem".

Answer:

part of a community, part of an ecosystem