A species of protozoan-carrying mosquito lives in a meadow. The protozoan, if transmitted to mammal hosts through a bit, can be fatal to the host. Two species of rabbits, species I and II, both live in this meadow. Species I is immune to the protozoan but species II is not. The mosquito is a main food source for a bat species that lives around the meadow. If all of these bats are eliminated suddenly by a white nose fungal infection, what would be the most likely outcome?

Question

Biology

Michaela Crosby

19 March, 08:38

A species of protozoan-carrying mosquito lives in a meadow. The protozoan, if transmitted to mammal hosts through a bit, can be fatal to the host. Two species of rabbits, species I and II, both live in this meadow. Species I is immune to the protozoan but species II is not. The mosquito is a main food source for a bat species that lives around the meadow. If all of these bats are eliminated suddenly by a white nose fungal infection, what would be the most likely outcome?

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Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Perez · Answer 1

Answer:B) Increased mortality of rabbit species II

Rachael Weber · Answer 2

The population of species II of rabbit would reduce.

Explanation:

This is because the reduction of bat populations that feed on the mosquitoes means the population of mosquitoes increases. The increase in mosquito population means a higher encounter of mosquitoes with the rabbits transmitting the protozoan. Due to the reduced immunity of species II to the protozoans then their population will reduce.