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 rabbit.

Answer 1

The correct option is D The hawk population and the fox population prey more heavily on rabbit.

The image represents the food chain in which the organisms depends on each other for food. When there is a decrease in the sparrow population, there are many incidents which can occur. There can be a decrease in the population of the hawk and fox which feeds on the sparrow. The rabbit is the other common food source for both hawk and fox, which will result in more heavy preying of the rabbit.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.