Question

Mullet are local estuarine fish that move in schools and feed on plankton and plant matter. Natural predators of the mullet include spotted sea trout, sharks, pelicans and dolphins. The graph below shows how the number of mullet in an area has changed over time.
Based on the data, one student concludes that a new predator was introduced into the area during this time period. Which of the following is a likely alternate explanation for the change in the mullet population?
answer choices
A. mullet prey increased in the area
B. mullet parasites decreased in the area
C. the temperature of the area increased
D. the amount of aquatic plants in the area decreased

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct option is D. the amount of aquatic plants in the area decreased

Explanation:

The changes in a population of a single species can bring diverse effects on the entire food chain or food- web of an ecosystem.

If the amounts of producers, which are aquatic plants in the above scenario, decreases then the amount of consumers will also decrease as the consumers will compete for food and only those organisms will be able to survive which are better adapted in taking up food. The mullet feed on aquatic plants. Hence, when the population of aquatic plants decreases, the population of mullets will also most likely decrease.