Final answer:
Removal of sea stars from an intertidal zone can lead to decreased biodiversity, an increase in algae growth, and disruptions in the marine food web, including potential increases in certain predator populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When sea stars are removed from the intertidal zone, there could be significant impacts on the marine food web. Sea stars are often keystone species in their ecosystems, meaning their removal could lead to a decrease in biodiversity due to their role in maintaining the structure and balance of the ecosystem they inhabit.
Without sea stars, the populations of their prey, such as mussels and other invertebrates, might increase considerably, leading to overgrazing and a subsequent increase in algae growth. This overgrowth of algae can cover rocks and other surfaces, disrupting habitats for other species, which could lead to further shifts in the structure of the marine food web.
Moreover, as the numbers of prey like mussels increase, this may also give rise to a disruption in the food chain since the predatory-prey dynamics have been altered. The imbalance could allow intermediate predators, which sea stars help to keep in check, to flourish possibly leading to an increase in predator population that prey on species below them in the food web. Overall, the removal of sea stars can initiate a trophic cascade that disrupts the balance of the marine ecosystem.