Question

a group of citizens are concerned about the loss of trees in addition to wetlands because it removes the nesting sites for birds, such as ospreys. according to chesapeake bay waterbird food web what impact would removing ospreys have on the ecosystem? select two that apply. fish populations that were preyed on by ospreys may increase reducing invertebrate populations. the bald eagle will replace the role of the osprey in the ecosystem resulting in zero impact to the food web. submerged aquatic vegetation (sav) will increase because the food web is no longer controlled by the osprey. the removal of ospreys will destabilize the food web, potentially causing changes in multiple organism populations.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze each option

• Option 1:

If ospreys (which prey on fish) are removed, the fish populations they preyed on may increase. As fish populations increase, they may consume more invertebrates (if that's part of their diet), reducing invertebrate populations. This is a valid ecological impact.

• Option 2:

Bald eagles and ospreys have different ecological niches. Bald eagles do not simply "replace" the role of ospreys in the exact same way. Ospreys have specific adaptations (like specialized feet for catching fish in certain ways) and interactions in the food web that bald eagles do not replicate exactly. So, this option is incorrect.

• Option 3:

Ospreys are not the main controllers of the food web in a way that their removal would directly lead to an increase in SAV. There are other factors (like herbivores that eat SAV, nutrient availability etc.) that regulate SAV populations. So, this option is incorrect.

• Option 4:

In an ecosystem, each species is interconnected. Removing a species (ospreys) can cause a domino - effect. For example, as mentioned in option 1, fish populations may change, which can then affect other species that interact with those fish (either as competitors, prey for other predators etc.). So, the removal of ospreys can destabilize the food web.

Answer:

• Fish populations that were preyed on by ospreys may increase, reducing invertebrate populations.
• The removal of ospreys will destabilize the food web, potentially causing changes in multiple organism populations.