Golden Eagle/Fox [ Choose ] -/0 +/0 +/+ 0/- 0/0 0/+ -/- +/- -/+ Fox/Skunk [ Choo

Question

Golden Eagle/Fox

      [ Choose ]            -/0            +/0            +/+            0/-            0/0            0/+            -/-            +/-            -/+      

Fox/Skunk

      [ Choose ]            -/0            +/0            +/+            0/-            0/0            0/+            -/-            +/-            -/+      

Golden Eagle/Skunk

      [ Choose ]            -/0            +/0            +/+            0/-            0/0            0/+            -/-            +/-            -/+      

Pigs, Eagles & Foxes - Channel Islands Case

Golden eagles, feral pigs, and insular carnivores: How exotic species turn native predators into prey by Roemer et al (citations removed from text)

The California Channel Islands are a group of eight islands located off the coast of southern California. Six of the islands are inhabited by the endemic island fox. Island foxes are the largest native carnivore on the islands, feeding predominantly on mice, insects, and fruits. On two islands, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, the island spotted skunk co-occurs with the fox. Smaller in size, skunks are strict carnivores, feeding exclusively on mice and insects. Foxes are generally diurnal, while skunks are nocturnal. Feral pigs are also found on Santa Cruz Island, where they have been present for over 150 years. The feral pigs are omnivores, and feed on fruits, insects, and small animals (mice, lizards, etc). The introduction of pigs to the Channel Islands provided an abundant food source for Golden Eagles and enabling the historically transient visitors to the islands to colonize them. Eagles feed on both foxes and young pigs.

Exotic species and apex predators are important drivers of ecosystem change and have been increasingly recognized as major concerns in the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems. In cases where exotic species have caused biodiversity loss, their effects are typically manifested through direct species interactions in the form of predation, competition, or hybridization. The arrival of Golden Eagles in the islands, has corresponded with a crash in the populations of foxes.

The symbols +, - , and 0 are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, denotes a negative interaction, and 0 denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned. Match the organismal interaction with the appropriate symbols.

Explanation / Answer

Ans. Due to the introduction of Golden eagle there was a rapid decline of fox population but not much impact on the golden eagle population. Thus Golden Eagle/Fox would be 0/-.

The average consumption of fox outweighs that of skunk thus the interaction would be such that growth of fox would be there but not of skunk. Hence considering the ecology and environment growth of fox was more and decline of skunk was observed. Thus the interaction for fox/skunk would be +/-.

Due to introduction of golden eagle the fox population would be declined thus there would be rise in skunk population as the mice and insects would be available for the skunk hence the interaction for Golden eagle/skunk would be 0/+.

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