An ecologist hypothesizes that predation by a particular owl species is the major factor controlling the population of a particular rabbit species. The first step in testing this hypothesis would be to determine

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In order to test the hypothesis that predation by a particular owl species is the major factor controlling the rabbit population, it is important to determine whether the owls eat the rabbits. This would provide evidence that the owl is a predator of the rabbit population and could be a major factor in controlling their population size. The other answer choices may also be important in understanding the ecosystem and possible impacts on the rabbit population, but they are not as directly relevant to testing the hypothesis about predation by the owl species.

An Ecologist Hypothesizes That Predation by a Particular Owl Species