In an enclosure, foxes eat rabbits and mice. Rabbits and mice both eat the same grass. Foxes also eat berries, so their numbers initially remain unchanged when rabbit numbers fall.
A disease then reduces the rabbit population. It does not infect mice, foxes or plants.
Why cannot the direction of the initial change in mouse numbers be predicted from this information alone?
Reduced competition and increased predation could both increase mouse survival.
Reduced competition and increased predation could have opposing effects on mice.
Increased competition and reduced predation could both decrease mouse survival.
Increased competition and reduced predation could have opposing effects on mice.
63 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition, covering 7.1.1 Communities, 7.1.2 Abiotic factors, 7.1.3 Biotic factors, and 7.1.4 Adaptations. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.