The graph shows the change in number of two populations, lions and zebras. The solid line represents the population of zebras and the dashed line represents the population of lions. Which relationship does the graph represent?
The graph portrays
predation. The relationship shows that an
increase in the population of zebra
results in a subsequent increase in the lion population, and vice versa. This,
therefore, means that the lion population
is dependent on the zebra population due to an interaction (predation). The lion population
will always be lower than that of the zebra because of the inefficiencies of energy transfer up the trophic levels (exhibited by a
typical energy pyramid).
