In a certain forest, foxes prey on rabbits. A virus that infects only rabbits spreads through the forest, killing many rabbits. Which of the following is most likely to occur to the fox population? A. It will decrease, because the foxes will not have enough food. B. It will decrease, because the foxes will suffer from the virus. C. It will increase, because the foxes will no longer need to compete with the rabbits for food. D. It will increase, because the foxes will evolve to become more resistant to disease.

Foxes prey on rabbits, so the fox population depends on the rabbit population for food. If the rabbit population decreases, it directly affects the fox population.

The virus infects only rabbits and leads to the death of many rabbits. This means there will be a decline in the rabbit population, affecting the food source for the foxes.

A. It will decrease, because the foxes will not have enough food. With the decline in the rabbit population, it's logical to assume that the foxes will have less food available, which could lead to a decrease in the fox population. B. It will decrease, because the foxes will suffer from the virus. Since the exercise explicitly states that the virus infects only rabbits, foxes are not affected directly by the virus. C. It will increase, because the foxes will no longer need to compete with the rabbits for food. This option doesn't make sense, as foxes prey on rabbits, and a decline in the rabbit population would lead to a decrease in available food for foxes, not an increase. D. It will increase, because the foxes will evolve to become more resistant to disease. This option is also not likely, as the exercise doesn't mention any direct impact of the virus on the fox population or their need to evolve in response to the virus.

Based on the analysis of each option, the most likely outcome is: A. The fox population will decrease because the foxes will not have enough food due to the decline in the rabbit population caused by the virus.