Answer :
Answer:
Based on the historical data of the deer population on the Kaibab Plateau, the two hypotheses supported by the data would be:
AThe deer have overpopulated the Kaibab Plateau. Historical records indicate that after the protection measures were put in place, including the elimination of predators and the ban on hunting, the deer population grew from about 4,000 in 1905 to around 100,000 by 1924. This suggests that the deer population exceeded the carrying capacity of the plateau, leading to overpopulation.
B. The food source for the deer has been depleted. The rapid increase in the deer population would have led to increased competition for food resources. By 1923, the deer were reported to be on the verge of starvation, and the range conditions were described as “deplorable,” indicating that the food sources could not sustain the large deer population.
The other options do not align with the historical data: C. The birth rate equals the death rate in this population. This was not the case, as the population grew rapidly until it reached a point where the death rate increased due to starvation. D. The deer are currently growing at an exponential capacity. The data reflects a period of exponential growth followed by a decline, not current growth. E. The deer are affected by density-dependent factors like predation. Predation was significantly reduced due to human intervention, so it was not a density-dependent factor during the period of overpopulation.
The lesson from the Kaibab Plateau is often used to illustrate the importance of balance in ecosystems and the consequences of human interference in natural predator-prey dynamics.
Explanation:
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