In a specific food web, if the population of hawks (top predator) suddenly decreases, what is the immediate effect on the population of snakes (hawk's prey) and grass (producer)?
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Worked Solution
Step 1: Hawks eat snakes. Fewer hawks mean fewer snakes are eaten, so the snake population increases.
Step 2: Snakes eat frogs/insects that eat plants, or snakes might eat small herbivores. If snake population increases, they will consume more of their own prey.
Step 3: In a simple chain, more consumers of the level below the hawks will lead to more grazing/predation on the producers or lower levels.
Correct answer: Snakes increase; Grass decreases
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