An ecologist studying plants in the desert performed the following experiment. She staked out two identical plots, which included a few sagebrush plants and numerous small, annual wildflowers. She found the same five wildflower species in roughly equal numbers on both plots. She then enclosed one of the plots with a fence to keep out kangaroo rats, the most common grain-eaters of the area. After two years, to her surprise, four of the wildflower species were no longer present in the fenced plot, but one species had increased dramatically. The control plot had not changed. Using the principles of ecology, propose a hypothesis to explain her results. What additional evidence would support your hypothesis?

The study of the environment is called ecology.

The correct answer is mentioned below.

In the question, the kangaroo rats are keystone species because it eats the target and noted flower in which the experiment is based . due to which the r reintroduce kangaroo rats  . we should observe equilibrium re-established it to maintain the balance

According to the competition, the  Locally extinct species inferiorly competed with the extant species of plant. the superior species fight with the inferior and decreases the chances of survival.  Remove surviving species from another plot (and remove kangaroo rat population).

Hence, the correct answer is mentioned as follows

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An ecologist studying plants in the desert performed the following experiment. She staked out two identical plots, which included a few sagebrush plants and numerous small, annual wildflowers. She found the same five wildflower species in roughly equal numbers on both plots. She then enclosed one of the plots with a fence to keep out kangaroo rats, the most common grain-eaters of the area. After two years, to her surprise, four of the wildflower species were no longer present in the fenced plot, but one species had increased dramatically. The control plot had not changed. Using the principles of ecology, propose a hypothesis to explain her results.

Explanation:

a.Hypothesis: kangaroo rats are keystone species

-Reintroduce kangaroo rats (and the other locally extinct species)

-Should observe equilibrium re-established

b.Hypothesis: kangaroo rats exert top-down control on community

-Reintroduce kangaroo rats (and other locally extinct species)

-Increase kangaroo rat population in other plot

-Decrease (but don't eliminate) kangaroo rat population in other plot

c.Hypothesis: Locally extinct species inferiorly competed with the extant species of plant

-Remove surviving species from other plot (and remove kangaroo rat population)

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