Question

this food chain shows organisms in an estuary ecosystem. phytoplankton → zooplankton → bay anchovy → great egret use the food chain to complete the text below. if the population of zooplankton decreases, bay anchovies will have dropdown prey. if this happens, bay anchovies will be dropdown likely to survive and produce offspring.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the food chain

The food chain is phytoplankton → zooplankton → bay anchovy → great egret. So zooplankton is the prey for bay anchovies.

Step2: Determine the impact of zooplankton decrease

If the population of zooplankton (prey) decreases, bay anchovies will have less prey. With less prey, their chances of survival and reproduction will decrease, so they will be less likely to survive and produce offspring.

Answer:

First blank: less; Second blank: less