Weasels Are a Natural Predator of Bats

Multiple Choice

Weasels are a natural predator of bats. Since bats sleep during the day, weasels can climb to where they roost and feed on them. Suppose you want to design a study to see if weasels and bats demonstrate a boom and bust relationship in population size. What is the best first step to take?

A) Estimate the current population density of only the weasel species you plan to observe that live in one grassland area.
B) Estimate the number of weasels born each year in as many habitat areas as possible.
C) Estimate the current population densities of both the bat species and the weasel species you plan to observe in as many habitat areas as possible.
D) Estimate the number of bats eaten each day by weasels in one habitat area.