Review the chart, which shows the population sizes of three African animals in 1990 and in 2000. Population Estimates of Animals in Africa in 1990 and in 2000 19902000Lions100,00047,000Cheetahs25,0007,500Zebras750,000450,000Which explanation is best supported by the numbers in the chart?
Answer
A
Lion and cheetah populations compete for the food source of zebras, and lions outcompete cheetahs.
B
The dwindling zebra population has led to the decline of the predator lion and cheetah populations.
C
Overhunting of lion and cheetah populations has led to a decline in the food source population.
D
Lion and cheetah populations compete for the food source of zebras, and cheetahs outcompete lions.
Explanation
From 1990 to 2000, the zebra population fell from 750,000 to 450,000. The lion population also fell, from 100,000 to 47,000, and the cheetah population fell from 25,000 to 7,500. These numbers best support the explanation that a decline in zebras, a food source, accompanied declines in both predators; the chart does not show which predator outcompetes the other or establish that overhunting caused the changes.
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