What was the overall effect of removing the predatory sea star Pisaster ochraceus from its food web?
A) Species richness decreased rapidly.
B) Species richness increased rapidly.
C) Species richness stayed the same.
D) Another predator moved to the top position in the food web.
E) Mussel populations decreased.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Removing the predatory sea star Pisaster ochraceus led to a decrease in species richness because mussels, which are their prey, were able to outcompete other species for space, leading to a decline in the diversity of species in that habitat.

What Was the Overall Effect of Removing the Predatory Sea