Question

A partial food web is shown here:
Which of the following changes is most likely to occur if the sparrow population decreases?

A. The fox population increases
B. The hawk population increases
C. The grasshopper population competes less with the praying mantis
D. The hawk population and the fox population prey more heavily on rabbits

Answer 1

Hint: The transmission of energy involves a variety of distinct interactions and linkages. The energy is disseminated across the numerous living species after it has been produced and captured. The food web is the name given to this energy transmission. Plants are the cornerstone of all ecosystems and food chains, supplying nourishment and oxygen for survival and reproduction. Food webs are useful tools for understanding this.

Complete answer:
Option A: The illustration portrays a food chain in which animals rely on one another to survive. As the sparrow population drops, a variety of scenarios may arise. It's probable that the number of hawks and foxes that prey on sparrows will decrease. Because the rabbit is a frequent food source for both hawks and foxes, rabbit predation has grown.
So, option A is incorrect.
Option B: The graphic depicts a food chain in which animals are reliant on one another for survival. A multitude of possibilities may emerge when the sparrow population declines. The number of hawks and foxes that hunt on sparrows is likely to decline. Rabbit predation has increased as a result of the rabbit's popularity as a food source for hawks and foxes.
So, option B is not correct.
Option C: The illustration shows a food chain in which creatures rely on one another to survive. When the sparrow population drops, a plethora of options may open up. Hawks and foxes that hunt sparrows are likely to decrease in number. The attractiveness of rabbits as a food source for hawks and foxes has boosted rabbit predation.
So, this option is also not correct.
Option D: The graphic depicts a food chain in which creatures rely on one another for survival. There are numerous situations that can occur as the sparrow population declines. A decline in the population of hawks and foxes that prey on sparrows is possible. The rabbit is another common food source for both hawk and fox, resulting in increased rabbit predation.
So, option D is correct.

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.

Note:
Humans are the most powerful consumers on the planet. Energy production and agriculture, pollution, habitat damage, overfishing, and hunting all have an impact on food webs. Their needs for food and shelter, as well as population increase, have an impact on soil and aquatic environments.
Abiotic factors like latitude and temperature can influence biotic components of food web structure such as the number of species, the number of linkages, and the proportion of basal or top species. These biotic elements can then have an impact on network-structural elements such as connectivity, omnivory levels, and trophic level.