Which type of organism is more likely to lose a population due to the death of a few individuals?

The reasoning behind choosing elephants as the correct answer lies in their population dynamics and ecological characteristics. Elephants are large, long-lived animals that often live in tightly knit family groups. Their social structure is such that the loss of even a few individuals—particularly key members of the herd or breeding females—can have a significant impact on the population's ability to thrive. Elephants typically have low reproductive rates, meaning they do not reproduce in large numbers frequently. This makes them particularly vulnerable; when a small number die, it can disrupt the social structure and reproductive success of the remaining population, potentially leading to a more significant decline.

In contrast, other organisms like mice and grasshoppers tend to have higher reproductive rates and more resilient populations. Mice reproduce quickly and in large numbers, allowing their populations to recover rapidly from losses. Grasshoppers also have a high reproductive capacity, with many eggs laid at once, which can buffer against population decline. Frogs, while they might have varying reproductive strategies, generally lay many eggs, which can contribute to population stability despite individual losses. Overall, the unique combination of low birth rates and social dependency in elephants makes them more susceptible to population declines following the death of a few individuals.