Foresters recently noticed an apparent drop in the squirrel population in a near-by oak-hickory forest. the squirrels eat acorns produced on the oak trees; hawks eat squirrels. the foresters are not sure what is causing the decline in the squirrel population but they are concerned that both the squirrel and hawk populations will disappear.

how could they best find an answer to their question?

a) tag and track the hawks in the area.

b) conduct a decade long population study.

c) monitor the acorn production of the oak trees for several seasons.

d) use a computer simulation model of the potential forest populations.