Question
The chart shows some of the inhabitants of a wetland community and their food sources.
Wetland Community Organisms and
Their Food Sources
Organism Food Source
Algae Makes its own food by photosynthesis
Snail Algae and dead plants
Minnow Algae and small insects
Sunfish Snails, minnows, and small insects
Bass Minnows and small sunfish
Fishing has removed most of the adult bass from the wetland community. Based on the information in the chart, which of these would most likely occur?
Responses
Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing.
Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing.
Snails would need to find another food source.
Snails would need to find another food source.
Young bass would migrate to other areas.
Young bass would migrate to other areas.
Sunfish would become overpopulated.
Wetland Community Organisms and
Their Food Sources
Organism Food Source
Algae Makes its own food by photosynthesis
Snail Algae and dead plants
Minnow Algae and small insects
Sunfish Snails, minnows, and small insects
Bass Minnows and small sunfish
Fishing has removed most of the adult bass from the wetland community. Based on the information in the chart, which of these would most likely occur?
Responses
Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing.
Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing.
Snails would need to find another food source.
Snails would need to find another food source.
Young bass would migrate to other areas.
Young bass would migrate to other areas.
Sunfish would become overpopulated.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the information in the chart and the scenario provided, the most likely outcome is:
**Sunfish would become overpopulated.**
Here's the reasoning: With the removal of most adult bass, which are predators of sunfish, the populations of sunfish are likely to increase because they would face less predation. Consequently, without a significant predator to keep their numbers in check, the sunfish population may grow rapidly, leading to overpopulation in the wetland community.
The other options are less likely:
- **Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing**: While there may be some impact due to changes in the food web, it's more likely that the decrease in bass allows for more minnows due to less competition for resources.
- **Snails would need to find another food source**: Snails primarily feed on algae and dead plants, which are still available.
- **Young bass would migrate to other areas**: While some young bass may migrate, the population dynamics suggest that they would likely experience increased survival in the absence of adult bass.
Therefore, the best choice is that sunfish would become overpopulated.
**Sunfish would become overpopulated.**
Here's the reasoning: With the removal of most adult bass, which are predators of sunfish, the populations of sunfish are likely to increase because they would face less predation. Consequently, without a significant predator to keep their numbers in check, the sunfish population may grow rapidly, leading to overpopulation in the wetland community.
The other options are less likely:
- **Minnows would have more difficulty reproducing**: While there may be some impact due to changes in the food web, it's more likely that the decrease in bass allows for more minnows due to less competition for resources.
- **Snails would need to find another food source**: Snails primarily feed on algae and dead plants, which are still available.
- **Young bass would migrate to other areas**: While some young bass may migrate, the population dynamics suggest that they would likely experience increased survival in the absence of adult bass.
Therefore, the best choice is that sunfish would become overpopulated.