A small group of mice are released on an island without mice but with abundant food for mice and no predators. After the population size stabilizes for several years, a hurricane drastically reduces it, we can now say that
A. the biotic potential of the population has been reduced.
B. its new population size is a result of density-dependent regulation.
C. its new population size is a result of density-independent regulation.
D. it can now act as a sink metapopulation.
E. it can now act as a source metapopulation.
Answer: C