Question

Recently, zebra mussels were found in Colorado's Lake Pueblo. Zebra mussels are not native to the lakes in Colorado, and they feed heavily on the algae and microscopic animals that form the base of the lake's food web. If the spread of zebra mussels cannot be contained, what will be the likely effect on Lake Pueblo's ecosystem?

Answer 1

Other organism would have to compete with the Zebra Mussels and most likely cause a collapse within these different populations

Answer 2

Answer:

Lake Pueblo's ecosystem will not be stable anymore

Explanation:

Since, algae and microscopic animals lie at the base of food chain they are the main source of food and energy to all other organism in the lake ecosystem.

When zebra mussels starts eating the algae and microscopic animals heavily, then all other organisms that depend on these two sources of food will get food deprived due to which the food chain will get unstable and hence the ecosystem will get unstable.

Lack of food can also lead to increased competition among the lake species.