A population of gray foxes lives in a forest ecosystem. These foxes prey mostly on a large population of mice. If a fatal disease infects the mouse population, which of these is most likely to happen to the fox population through time?

A. It will decrease in size

B. It will increase in size

C. It will suffer from a similar disease

D. It will develope resistance to the disease

Question

Jasmine

Biology

3 October, 11:01

A population of gray foxes lives in a forest ecosystem. These foxes prey mostly on a large population of mice. If a fatal disease infects the mouse population, which of these is most likely to happen to the fox population through time?

A. It will decrease in size

B. It will increase in size

C. It will suffer from a similar disease

D. It will develope resistance to the disease

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Larson · Answer 1

It will decrease in size

Carla · Answer 2

The correct answer is that the population of foxes will also decrease in size.

The population of the fox is majorly dependent on the population of mice as the source of their food, and due to a fatal disease infecting the mice population, the population of the fox who majorly consumes mice would also get infected with the same deadly disease.

This condition will eventually result in declining of fox population due to their over-dependence on mice as the source of food.