Once the prairie dogs were poisoned and no longer a part of the ecosystem, which of the following probably occurred?
A) Soils slowly became compacted because of the cattle, increasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
B) Soils slowly became compacted because of the cattle, decreasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
C) Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, so soil moisture increased.
D) Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, decreasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
E) Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, so fewer nutrients were recycled.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Prairie dogs aerate the soil, which helps maintain its structure and infiltration capacity. Without them, cattle trampling likely led to soil compaction, reducing its ability to absorb moisture.

Once the Prairie Dogs Were Poisoned and No Longer a Part