mice

Cats prey on birds and mice.

But in the section of the forest where the white-footed mice had been removed, the gypsy moth population exploded.

And in another section of the forest, they removed a number of white-footed mice.

Yes. But in the years with large amounts of acorns, the mice have more food, which leads to…?

Student: So during the years with fewer acorns, the white-footed mice have to deal with a smaller food supply.

Student: So the mice eat both acorns from the oak trees and gypsy moths.

So the size of the gypsy moth population is controlled by the white-footed mice, which is a good thing because gypsy moth caterpillars are considered pests.

Another food source for the white-footed mice is the gypsy moth.

Oak trees produce acorns, and acorns are a primary food source for white-footed mice.

Student:Wow! Does that just go for mice?

And the result, the underfed mice lived much longer than the normally fed ones.

He gave each mouse in one group thirty percent less food, or more precisely, thirty percent fewer calories than the mice in the other group which ate a normal amount.

Now consider animals like cows, horses, rabbits, and mice.

In addition, mammals such as moles, field mice, gophers, and prairie dogs sometimes are present in sufficient numbers to have significant impact on the soil.