A likely scenario for causing the population trend shown in the diagram below is
A)the carrying capacity changed.
B)favorable environmental conditions caused a temporary population explosion above the carrying capacity.
C)a keystone predator was removed from the ecosystem at the point that the population began to decline.
D)primary succession began at the time when the population reached its peak.

Question

A likely scenario for causing the population trend shown in the diagram below is 
A)the carrying capacity changed. 
B)favorable environmental conditions caused a temporary population explosion above the carrying capacity. 
C)a keystone predator was removed from the ecosystem at the point that the population began to decline. 
D)primary succession began at the time when the population reached its peak.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The population trend in the diagram shows a rapid increase and then a sudden decline, which is characteristic of a population explosion followed by a crash. This is most likely to occur when environmental conditions are favorable, allowing rapid reproduction and growth beyond the carrying capacity. Eventually, the population exceeds the available resources, leading to competition, disease, and other factors that cause the population to decline rapidly. Choice A is incorrect because a change in carrying capacity would result in a more gradual change in population size. Choice C is incorrect because the removal of a predator may initially cause a population increase, but it would not lead to a sudden decline as shown in the diagram. Choice D is incorrect because primary succession refers to the colonization of bare rock or soil, and is not directly related to population dynamics.

A Likely Scenario for Causing the Population Trend Shown in the Diagram