Cat bears are specialist predators of two-eyed mice. Suppose that two-eyed mice

Question

Cat bears are specialist predators of two-eyed mice. Suppose that two-eyed mice populations are limited by a carrying capacity as well predation by Cat bears. Assuming that the relationship follows Lotka-Volterra dynamics, the population of cat bears and two-eyed mice will

a. show stable population cycles of both species

b. spiral away from intersection of the isoclines, leading to extinction of both species

c. spiral toward a stable equilibrium point at the intersection of the isoclines, leading to coexistence of both predator and prey

d. the outcome depends on the location of the intersection of the isoclines

e. the outcome depends on the conversion efficiency () of Cat bears

Explanation / Answer

The prey population finds ample food at all times. The food supply of the predator population depends entirely on the size of the prey population. The rate of change of population is proportional to its size. During the process, the environment does not change in favour of one spec The stability of this fixed point is of significance. If it were stable, non-zero populations might be attracted towards it, and as such the dynamics of the system might lead towards the extinction of both species for many cases of initial population levels. Prey populations rapidly increase. This is followed by an increase in the predator population: As predators eat the prey, their population goes down because there is less to eat and the predator population also goes down. Thus, many-species LV competition model with crowding effects leads to the stable coexistence of all species

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.