The brown rat is considered to be a pest by humans. The rats carry diseases, invade homes, and take food from storage areas. Brown rats are good swimmers both on top of and below the
water's surface. While they are poor climbers, they are adapted to digging burrows and tunnels.
The kangaroo rat can survive without ever drinking any water. These rodents get needed
moisture from their seed diet. Like brown rats, they have excellent hearing. Their large back legs
enable them to escape predators by jumping up to 9 feet (2.75 m) in a single jump.
In what type of ecosystems would populations of brown rats and kangaroo rats be found in
greatest numbers?
A Brown rat populations would be found in greatest numbers in a forest ecosystem while
kangaroo rat populations would be found in greatest numbers in an urban ecosystem.
B Brown rat populations would be found in greatest numbers in an ecosystem near a water
source, while kangaroo rat populations would be found in greatest number in a desert
ecosystem
C Both brown rat and kangaroo rat populations would be found in greatest numbers in a desert
ecosystem
D Both brown rat and kangaroo rat populations would be found in greatest numbers in an
ecosystem with a water source.