What would most likely occur if the penguin population were to dramatically increase in this food web?

Marine Food Web:
- Killer Whale
- Elephant Seal
- Leopard Seal
- Penguin
- Squid
- Krill
- Cod
- Zooplankton
- Phytoplankton

A. The density of phytoplankton would increase as well.
B. Elephant seals would show increased reproductive success.
C. The population size of the krill would decrease.
D. Squid would get preyed upon by cod more frequently.



Answer :

Final answer:

A surge in the penguin population would likely lead to a decrease in the krill population, disrupting the marine food web and potentially causing competition among species.


Explanation:

If the penguin population were to dramatically increase in this marine food web, the most likely to occur would be that the population size of the krill would decrease. This is because an increase in penguins, which prey on krill, would lead to higher predation pressure on the krill population.

Additionally, a surge in the penguin population could potentially disrupt the balance of the food web, impacting the availability of krill as a food source for other species like squid and cod. This disturbance could have cascading effects on various trophic levels within the ecosystem.

Furthermore, a significant rise in penguin numbers might put pressure on the existing resources, potentially leading to competition for food and habitat amongst the different species in the food web.


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