Question

The large cod fish in the North Atlantic prey on smaller fish like herring. Due to warming ocean waters, the herring are moving to deeper water and further north. Why is it important for scientists to understand both cod and herring populations in order to make predictions about the cod population?

Answer 1

The Herring is an essential food source for the cod. If migration occurs among schools of herring, their biomass will decrease significantly, causing a downward shift in cod populations

Answer 2

Answer: It is important for the scientist to study the population of both cod and herring in order to make predictions about the cod population.

This is because the cod fish eat the small fishes like herring. If the population of herring is decreasing due to migration then the food source of cod fish will decrease.

So, it is important for the scientist to study the population of both the fishes to predict the population of cod fishes.