Suppose a species of beetle feeds on grass in a grassland ecosystem. Toads prey on beetles. In which of the following scenarios would a predator become a limiting factor for the beetle population?

Answer choices:
A drought reduces the toad population.
An influx of soil nutrients results in increased grass growth.
A hawk species moves in that hunts toads
The toad population increases after a warm, wet spring.

Limiting factor - Condition in an organism's environment that limits its population size.

Question

Suppose a species of beetle feeds on grass in a grassland ecosystem. Toads prey on beetles. In which of the following scenarios would a predator become a limiting factor for the beetle population?

Answer choices:
A drought reduces the toad population.
An influx of soil nutrients results in increased grass growth.
A hawk species moves in that hunts toads
The toad population increases after a warm, wet spring.

Limiting factor - Condition in an organism's environment that limits its population size.

wolfe8 · Answer

What limiting factor means is that it becomes the only thing that limits the number of something. So here we have the beetle eaten by toads. The toad is the predator. What factors limit the number of beetles?

anonymous · Answer

Would it be:A hawk species moves in that hunts toads?

wolfe8 · Answer

First, can we list what factors might affect the number of beetles? It is usually the availability of food and amount of predators.

anonymous · Answer

Ok here is a few I could think of:

More predators.

Water shortage.

Food shortage.

Harsh weather conditions

wolfe8 · Answer

Right. But in this case, you know about grass(affected by drought) and predators(toads) only, correct? So for toads to be the only limiting factor, it must mean that you have no problem with food.

anonymous · Answer

Ok..

anonymous · Answer

So would the answer be: A hawk species moves in that hunts toads?

wolfe8 · Answer

See, now we're looking at the beetles. |dw:1387751423734:dw| It is only affected directly by grass and toads. And you want toads to be the limiting factor, meaning nothing else is a worry for the beetles. Not even food. Get it?

anonymous · Answer

Yes

anonymous · Answer

so...?

wolfe8 · Answer

Say  you have plenty of grass, then there can be as many beetles as they can reproduce, right? And so then you will have to hope that there aren't many toads for the population to keep growing. This makes toads the limiting factor. Because then our beetle population size will depend on the number of toads.

anonymous · Answer

So would it be:The toad population increases after a warm, wet spring.?

wolfe8 · Answer

Hmm. I'm not sure how else to explain this. Do you have Skype? I can explain there. Or any way I can talk to you.

anonymous · Answer

Yeah...We can do it later, i have to go right now. I'll message you next time I see you.

wolfe8 · Answer

Alright. But it is B... just so you know

anonymous · Answer

HI PEPES MANGOROCKS Do you got ORCA?

anonymous · Answer

MANGOROX

anonymous · Answer

hi i was wondering for the question you asked did that dude get it right

anonymous · Answer

think so i cannot remember......