Question

Fertilizer runoff causes an increase in the dissolved nutrients of the ecosystem shown in the food web below. This causes the number of phytoplankton to double.


How will this most likely affect the other species in this ecosystem?
A.
The shrimp population will decrease which will cause an increase in the squid population.
B.
The shrimp population will increase which will cause an increase in the squid population.
C.
The shrimp population will decrease which will cause an increase in the sperm whale population.
D.
The shrimp population will increase which will cause a decrease in the sperm whale population.

Answer 1

The scenario describes an increase in phytoplankton due to fertilizer runoff, which often leads to an increase in primary producers in an aquatic ecosystem. This increase in phytoplankton typically provides more food for herbivores such as shrimp.

Given this information, the most likely effect on the ecosystem would be that the shrimp population increases due to the abundance of phytoplankton. Subsequently, an increase in the shrimp population would provide more food for higher trophic levels such as squid or sperm whales.

Thus, the correct answer is:

**B. The shrimp population will increase which will cause an increase in the squid population.**