Asked by Sam

Factories have been dumping very hot water used for cooling into this lake. The temperature of water in a lake has risen by several degrees.

What will MOST LIKELY happen to the organisms that live in the colder water in the lake?
Responses
A They will die out.They will die out.
B They will increase in numbers.They will increase in numbers.
C They will move to another lake.They will move to another lake.
D They will adapt to the new temperature.They will adapt to the new temperature.
E They will mutate and develop traits that allow them to survive.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
A — They will die out.

Explanation: A sudden, sustained rise of several degrees is outside the tolerance range of many cold‑water species. Increased temperature raises metabolic rates and reduces dissolved oxygen, causing stress, reduced reproduction, and mortality. Rapid migration is often not possible for many organisms, and adaptation or beneficial mutations require many generations, so extinction or severe decline is the most likely immediate outcome.