If the grasshopper population increases, what happens to the owl population?

If the grasshopper population increases, what happens to the owl population?

• A. It decreases
• B. It increases
• C. It remains the same
• D. Owls go extinct

Answer: (B)

A central idea here is predator-prey dynamics: when prey is more abundant, predators have more food, which supports better survival and reproduction. If there are more grasshoppers, owls have easier access to food, so their survival improves and they can produce more offspring. Over time this leads to a larger owl population, though you’ll often see a short lag as the extra food translates into more owls. If the grasshopper numbers stay high, the owl numbers stay higher; if the grasshoppers later decline, owl numbers may drop as well.

A central idea here is predator-prey dynamics: when prey is more abundant, predators have more food, which supports better survival and reproduction. If there are more grasshoppers, owls have easier access to food, so their survival improves and they can produce more offspring. Over time this leads to a larger owl population, though you’ll often see a short lag as the extra food translates into more owls. If the grasshopper numbers stay high, the owl numbers stay higher; if the grasshoppers later decline, owl numbers may drop as well.