Ecology Regents Practice Exam

The correct answer indicates that fewer oxpeckers would lead to increased tick populations. Oxpeckers are birds known for their symbiotic relationship with large mammals, as they feed on ticks and other parasites that infest these hosts. When oxpecker populations decline due to pesticide use, their role in controlling tick populations is diminished. Consequently, the absence of these birds allows ticks to multiply unchecked, leading to a rise in their numbers.

The relationship between oxpeckers and their mammalian hosts is an example of a form of ecological balance. The loss of this bird species from the ecosystem disrupts this balance, resulting in overpopulation of ticks, which can have further implications for the health of the mammals they parasitize. Therefore, fewer oxpeckers directly impact tick populations, resulting in more ticks in the habitat.

In this context, the other options may discuss various consequences of reduced oxpecker populations, but the most direct and immediate consequence is the increased tick numbers, making it the most appropriate answer.

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