What will happen if the deer is missing in the food chain given below?
$$Grass\rightarrow Deer\rightarrow Tiger$$
A
The population of tiger increases
B
The population of grass decreases
C
Tiger will start eating grass
D
The population of tiger decreases and the population of grass increases
Correct option is D. The population of tiger decreases and the population of grass increases
The given food chain shows a grazing food chain which starts from producers and ends at carnivores. The grass is a producer, deer are primary consumer or herbivore feeding on the grass and the tiger is secondary consumer or carnivore feeding on primary consumers.
If deer is missing in this food chain, then the population of grass will increase because it won't be eaten by deer and thus, will accumulate while the population of tigers will decrease because they won't get their food i.e. deer and will ultimately starve and die.
So, the correct answer is 'The population of tiger decreases and the population of grass increases'.