Question

Consider the data for competing predators, wolves and mountain lions, in several counties. If the wolf population in Clay County increases and approaches 80 wolves, what would we expect to happen to the mountain lion population?

Answer 1

C) The mountain lion population would drop below its current level.

Answer 2

With the increase in the population of the wolf in comparison to mountain lions, the population of mountain lions will get decrease.

Both the species consume large plant-eating species. In case, when the population of wolves out-competes the population of mountain lions, the population of mountain lions get decrease. As both the species are competing for the same source of food, and as the population of wolves is more, they will hunt more and will consume more amount of food, as a result, the population of mountain lions will start getting decline due to less availability of food.