Question

this food chain shows organisms in a freshwater ecosystem.
images of algae, zooplankton, shiner, mudminnow in sequence
use the food chain to complete the text below.
if the population of mudminnows increases, shiners will have dropdown predators.
if this happens, shiners will be dropdown likely to survive and produce offspring.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the food chain

The food chain is algae → zooplankton → shiner → mudminnow. So mudminnow preys on shiner.

Step2: Determine the effect of increased mudminnows on shiner's predators

If mudminnow population increases, shiner has more predators (since mudminnows eat shiners).

Step3: Determine the effect on shiner's survival

With more predators, shiners are less likely to survive and reproduce.

Answer:

First blank: more; Second blank: less