Question

If a volcanic eruption occurs that blocks out some of the sunlight long enough for many plants to die, what (if anything) will happen to the carnivorous animal species?

a. The carnivorous animals will need to adapt to eat other plant species.
b. They will die from the drop in temperature before the plant deaths affect them.
c. Nothing will happen; carnivorous animals will not be affected by plant death.
d. They will eventually die along with many other species in the food chain.

Answer 1

The death of plants due to lack of sunlight will cause a shortage of food for herbivores, leading to a collapse of the food chain and the eventual death of carnivorous animals along with many other species. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a volcanic eruption occurs that blocks out sunlight long enough for many plants to die, the impact on carnivorous animals would ultimately be detrimental. While carnivorous animals do not eat plants directly, they are dependent on a food chain that starts with photosynthetic plants. When plants die due to lack of sunlight, the herbivores that feed on these plants will also decline in numbers or die off, leading to a shortage of food for the carnivores. As the primary producers in an ecosystem fail, every level of the food chain is affected, leading to a potential collapse of the ecosystem and the eventual death of carnivorous species along with many other species. This has been reflected in historical events where large-scale volcanic eruptions have led to mass extinctions.