The net outcome of predator-prey interactions in the basic Lotka-Volterra models is that
A)the predator drives its prey to extinction and then goes extinct itself.
B)the prey population declines and this causes the predator population to also decline.
C)predator and prey populations eventually converge on equilibrium population sizes that are maintained into infinity.
D)predator and prey populations oscillate,with each predictably increasing and decreasing in response to the other.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Lotka-Volterra models predict that predator and prey populations will oscillate, with each population increasing and decreasing in response to changes in the other population. This is due to the fact that as the predator population grows, they consume more prey, causing the prey population to decline. This in turn reduces the amount of food available for the predators, causing their population to decline. As predator numbers drop, the prey population then has the opportunity to recover, leading to a subsequent increase in predator numbers as there is more food available. These cycles continue, producing the characteristic oscillations between the two populations.

The Net Outcome of Predator-Prey Interactions in the Basic Lotka-Volterra