Question

use the food chain to complete the text below.
this food chain shows organisms in a freshwater ecosystem.
if the population of yellow perch decreases, the population of large mouth bass will likely
, and the population of mudminnows will likely

Explanation:

1. First, analyze the food chain: algae → amphipod → mudminnow → yellow perch → large mouth bass.
2. Yellow perch is a predator of mudminnow and prey of large mouth bass. If yellow perch population decreases:

• For large mouth bass: Their food (yellow perch) is less, so large mouth bass population will likely decrease (due to less available prey).
• For mudminnow: Their predator (yellow perch) is less, so mudminnow population will likely increase (since fewer are being eaten).

Answer:

• If the population of yellow perch decreases, the population of large mouth bass will likely \(\boldsymbol{\text{decrease}}\), and the population of mudminnows will likely \(\boldsymbol{\text{increase}}\).