A study investigates how food availability influences Arctic…
A study investigates how food availability influences Arctic fox population size in two hypothetical tundra reserves. The Polar Tundra Preserve maintains natural lemming population levels and serves as the baseline population, while the Aurora Arctic Reserve experiences an increase in lemming abundance through habitat enhancement. Over multiple years, researchers track changes in Arctic fox population size using den surveys and GPS collars. Comparing population trends between Polar Tundra Preserve and Aurora Arctic Reserve allows researchers to assess how food availability affects Arctic fox population ecology. What is the independent variable?