In Huffaker's studies of an herbivorous mite and its mite predator, which variable was critical in determining whether the populations of predator and prey would go extinct quickly or persist?
A) Whether natural selection was operating to influence the population cycles
B) The complexity of the habitat
C) The nature of the prey's stress response
D) Whether the predators were "sit-and-wait" or active

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The complexity of the habitat was critical in Huffaker's studies, as it allowed for spatial refuges for the prey, which helped in maintaining the persistence of both predator and prey populations.

In Huffaker's Studies of an Herbivorous Mite and Its Mite