Consider the following marine community: Sea otters prey on sea urchins and therefore help maintain a healthy sea urchin population. Sea urchins prey on kelp. By helping to maintain viable sea urchin populations, the sea otters are also allowing enough kelp to grow and act as a habitat for other organisms.
-Suppose that a bacterial infection swept across a sea otter population and killed most sea otters before they could reproduce. How would the marine community be affected?
A) For a period of time, there would be overpopulations of sea urchins and therefore a decline in kelp populations.
B) For a period of time, there would be an overpopulation of kelp and therefore a decline in sea urchins.
C) Sea otters would continue to decline until they reached extinction.
D) Kelp would become a primary predator of sea urchins.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bacterial infection would kill most sea otters, causing a decline in their population. With fewer sea otters to prey on sea urchins, the sea urchin population would likely increase and overpopulate. In turn, this would lead to a decline in kelp populations as the overpopulated sea urchins would feed on the kelp. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect because an overpopulation of kelp would not lead to a decline in sea urchin populations. Option C is incorrect because the paragraph does not mention extinction, and option D is incorrect because kelp cannot become a predator of sea urchins as they are both non-predatory organisms.

Consider the Following Marine Community: Sea Otters Prey on Sea