This food web represents a community in a rain forest. boa constrictor beetle coati poison dart frog sloth strangler fig fungus fruit bat If the poison dart frogs disappeared from this community, which changes would be likely to occur? Select the three correct answers.

In a rainforest food web, each species plays an essential role in the ecosystem. The disappearance of the poison dart frogs could have several impacts on the community:

1. Predator-prey relationships would be affected. Poison dart frogs often fall prey to animals like snakes (boa constrictors in your list) and birds. If poison dart frogs were to disappear, their predators would have to search for alternative food sources which might not be as abundant or easy to catch. This could cause a decline in the predator populations.

2. Insect population changes. Poison dart frogs consume a variety of insects, helping to control their populations. Without the frogs to eat these insects, there could be an increase in the populations of certain insects such as beetles. This increase could then lead to over-consumption of vegetation and possibly affect the plant populations that the insects feed on, causing a ripple effect in the ecosystem.

3. Mutualistic and competitive relationships alterations. As the insect population dynamics shift, this can affect other species that compete for the same food sources. For example, other insect predators or insectivorous animals might face increased competition for food. Similarly, other species that benefit from the frog’s activities (for example, by feeding on leftover prey or benefiting from the control of insect populations) would also be affected.