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A river has different populations of lampreys and paddlefish. The paddlefish feed on zooplankton, while the lampreys feed on the paddlefish. Humans living around the river hunt the paddlefish. What will happen to the ecosystem if the paddlefish are hunted in excess?

A.
The population of lamprey will decrease, while the population of paddlefish will increase.
B.
The population of paddlefish will decrease, while the population of zooplankton will increase.
C.
The population of paddlefish will increase, while the population of zooplankton will decrease.
D.
The population of lamprey will increase, while the population of zooplankton will decrease.

User OldPadawan
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1 Answer

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If the paddlefish are hunted in excess, the population of paddlefish will decrease, which will have a cascading effect on the ecosystem. The correct answer is B. The decrease in paddlefish will cause a decrease in the predation pressure on zooplankton, resulting in an increase in the zooplankton population. However, the decrease in paddlefish will also cause a decrease in the food supply for the lampreys, which will result in a decrease in the lamprey population. This could have further implications for the ecosystem, as the lampreys may be important predators or prey for other species in the ecosystem. Additionally, if the human hunting continues, it may lead to the extinction of the paddlefish, which could have severe consequences for the ecosystem as a whole.
User Xirdus
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