Removal of sea otters from a system results in a massive increase in sea urchins and subsequent loss of kelp beds.This is an example of
A)a trophic cascade.
B)apparent competition.
C)bottom-up control.
D)indirect mutualism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario describes a trophic cascade, which occurs when the removal (or addition) of a top predator leads to changes in the abundance or behavior of species at lower trophic levels, ultimately affecting the entire ecosystem. In this case, the removal of sea otters as a top predator results in an increase in sea urchin abundance, which then leads to the overgrazing of kelp beds, and a subsequent loss of kelp-dependent species.

Removal of Sea Otters from a System Results in a Massive