Microorganisms can mutate and evolve very quickly compared to most multicellular organisms. This allows pathogenic microorganisms to infect new species. Suppose a very harmful microorganism that is quite successful at infecting hardwood trees is introduced into a forest ecosystem.
What effect would this pathogenic microorganism most likely have?
A> It would disrupt the ecosystem by greatly reducing the population of a few species.
B> It would maintain the balance of the ecosystem by reducing the population of one species.
C> It would disrupt the ecosystem by infecting and killing the populations of all the species.
D> It would maintain the balance of the ecosystem by reducing the populations of all the species.