Problem:
Two species of mouse live in the same field, the jumping mouse makes a nest in the upper grass stalks while the burrowing mouse burrows into the soil and lives underground. Both the jumping mouse and the burrowing mouse prey on the same species of beetle. The jumping mouse prevents the beetle from straying too far from the ground, thereby making the beetle easier for the burrowing mouse to catch. While the burrowing mouse keeps other ground based predators of the beetle away thereby minimising competition for the jumping mouse. Based on the above information, what is the mostly likely form of interaction between the two mice Answer facilitation If the farmer decides to spray a poison over the field that only kills the jumping mouse (as they are exposed to the poison) but since the burrowing mouse lives underground, they are protected. The poison has no effect on the beetle. Based on the information in the scenario, what do you think would be the most likely primary short-term response? Answer the population of the beetle would decrease