A small population of Canada lynx feeds on Arctic hares.Then snowshoe hares (the lynx's favorite prey) are introduced.The snowshoe hares reproduce rapidly, and their population explodes.Based on your knowledge of predator-prey interactions, what changes would you expect in the lynx population and in the population of Arctic hares, the lynx's previous prey?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With the increased availability of their favorite prey (snowshoe hares), the lynx population is likely to increase. However, this increased predation pressure on snowshoe hares will lead to a decrease in their population. As a result, the Arctic hare population may see a slight increase due to the reduced predation pressure from the lynx, but it is still likely to be negatively impacted by the introduction of the snowshoe hare. Therefore, the lynx population would increase and the Arctic hare population would decrease.

A Small Population of Canada Lynx Feeds on Arctic Hares