Weasels Are a Natural Predator of Bats

question 22

Multiple Choice

Weasels are a natural predator of bats. Since bats sleep during the day, weasels can climb to where they roost and feed on them. Suppose you want to design a study to see if weasels and bats demonstrate a boom and bust relationship in population size. What is the best first step to take?

• A)Estimate the current population density of only the weasel species you plan to observe that live in one grassland area.
• B)Estimate the number of weasels born each year in as many habitat areas as possible.
• C)Estimate the current population densities of both the bat species and the weasel species you plan to observe in as many habitat areas as possible.
• D)Estimate the number of bats eaten each day by weasels in one habitat area.