How would a population decrease in primary consumers affect the ecosystem?

Question

Group of answer choices

Third-level consumer population would increase.

There would be no overall effect.

Third-level consumer populations would eventually decrease.

primary producers would suddenly decrease.

Answer 1

A decrease in the population of primary consumers would most likely lead to the following effect:

Third-level consumer populations would eventually decrease.

Here's the reasoning: Primary consumers (herbivores) feed on primary producers (plants). If the population of primary consumers decreases, they will consume less plant material, potentially allowing primary producers to increase in number. However, third-level consumers (top predators) rely on the availability of secondary consumers (carnivores that eat primary consumers) for their food. With fewer primary consumers, the population of secondary consumers would also decline due to reduced food availability, which can eventually lead to a decrease in third-level consumers as well, because they would have less food available. Thus, the overarching effect would be a decrease in third-level consumer populations over time due to the disruption in the food web.