Question

this food chain shows organisms in a tropical coral reef ecosystem. diatom copepod blue sprat reef squid blackfin barracuda use the food chain to complete the text below. if the population of reef squids decreases, the population of blue sprats will likely , and the population of blackfin barracudas will likely .

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the food chain

The food chain is diatom → copepod → blue sprat → reef squid → blackfin barracuda. So blue sprat is prey of reef squid, and reef squid is prey of blackfin barracuda.

Step2: Effect of reef squid population decrease on blue sprat

If reef squid (predator of blue sprat) population decreases, there will be less predation on blue sprat. So blue sprat population will likely increase.

Step3: Effect of reef squid population decrease on blackfin barracuda

Reef squid is the prey of blackfin barracuda. If reef squid population decreases, there will be less food for blackfin barracuda. So blackfin barracuda population will likely decrease.

Answer:

increase; decrease