Question

this food chain shows organisms in an estuary ecosystem.
phytoplankton → common grass shrimp → atlantic silverside → bluefish → pelican
use the food chain to complete the text below.
if the population of bluefish increases, the population of atlantic silversides will likely
, and the population of pelicans will likely .

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Bluefish - Silversides Relationship

Bluefish eat Atlantic silversides (from the food chain: phytoplankton → grass shrimp → silverside → bluefish → pelican). If bluefish population increases, they will consume more silversides, so silversides' population will likely decrease.

Step2: Analyze Bluefish - Pelicans Relationship

Pelicans eat bluefish. If bluefish population increases, there is more food for pelicans. With more food, pelicans can reproduce more or survive better, so pelicans' population will likely increase.

Answer:

decrease; increase