Counting Rats from Space 980

What is the main reason why scientists are monitoring the population of giant kangaroo rats?

• To measure the rats' body weight

• To observe the mating behavior of the rats

• To track the movement of the rats in the San Joaquin Valley

• To study the effects of climate change on the rats' habitat

What is the population density of a species related to?

• The number of predators in the area

• The average size of the individuals in a population

• The total area covered by the population

• The number of individuals in a given area

What is the range of a population?

• The total area covered by the population

• The average lifespan of the individuals in a population

• The number of individuals in a population

• The geographic spread of a population

What do scientists use to estimate the population density of giant kangaroo rats?

• Underground sensors

• Weather balloons

• Drone footage

• Satellite observations

What factor controls the population of giant kangaroo rats by affecting their habitat?

• Abiotic limiting factors

• Biotic limiting factors

• Predation

• Competition

What is the main reason for the decline in the population of giant kangaroo rats?

• Expansion of their habitat

• Increased availability of food sources

• Decreased competition from other species

• Changes in rainfall and drought events

What is the significance of the giant kangaroo rat in the San Joaquin Valley ecosystem?

• It supports healthy insect populations and increases plant diversity

• It is a favorite food for the endangered kit fox

• It provides shelter for the San Joaquin antelope squirrel

• It controls the population of other rodent species

What is the main purpose of bringing cattle into a new refuge next to the Carrizo Plain?

• To control the population of giant kangaroo rats

• To study the behavior of the rats in a new environment

• To feed on the taller, non-native grasses that choke out the rats' preferred grasses

• To provide shelter for the San Joaquin antelope squirrel

What do circular patches of dried grasses around burrows indicate to scientists?

• The presence of other rodent species

• The presence of giant kangaroo rats

• The presence of predators in the area

• The availability of water sources

What is the main reason why the giant kangaroo rat is considered a keystone species in the San Joaquin Valley?

• It is adapted to the desert-grassland environment of south-central California

• It extracts enough moisture to survive from the seeds and grasses it consumes

• Its existence is vital for other species in the ecosystem

• It is the largest of its genus and gets around by hopping on its hind legs