Question

Ice platforms in the arctic are a critical resource for the survival of arctic animals. Seal pups nurse and rest on the ice platforms for the first six weeks of life. Recent data suggests that warming sea water and air temperatures will melt 20 percent or more of the arctic sea ice over the next 40 years, disrupting the arctic food web. Based on the partial arctic food web, melting sea ice might lead to a decrease in the number of ________?

1) seal pups
2) arctic animals
3) ice platforms
4) arctic food web

Answer 1

The melting of arctic sea ice will likely lead to a decrease in the number of seal pups, as well as a decline in the broader arctic animal population due to the disruption of the arctic food web.The correct answer is option 1,2.

Step-by-step explanation:

Melting of the arctic sea ice due to rising temperatures affects various species that rely on the ice for survival. Seal pups, in particular, nurse and rest on the ice platforms for the first few weeks of life.

With the projected melting of 20 percent or more of the arctic sea ice over the next 40 years, it is reasonable to predict a decrease in the number of seal pups, as they will have fewer platforms to rest and nurse upon.

Additionally, this loss of ice will disrupt the arctic food web, which includes species from phytoplankton to polar bears, as the sea ice serves as critical hunting and breeding grounds.

Therefore, the melting of sea ice might lead to a decrease in the number of seal pups (1), as well as a broader decline across arctic animals (2) due to cascading effects within the ecosystem.The correct answer is option 1,2.