Question

steelhead fish are predators of predatory insects, which in turn feed on midge larvae. the midge larvae feed on algae. if you increased the number of steelhead fish, what would you expect to happen to the algae in the stream by indirect effects? group of answer choices the algae would increase. the algae would decrease. the algae would not be affected by more fish since they are carnivores, not herbivores.

Answer 1

The algae would decrease.

Step-by-step explanation:

As the number of steelhead fish increases, they will consume more predatory insects, which in turn would consume more midge larvae. As a result, there would be fewer midge larvae to feed on the algae, leading to a decrease in the amount of algae in the stream. This is an example of a trophic cascade, where changes in the population of one species can have cascading effects on other species in the ecosystem through the food web.