Question

1. if a population of apex predators, such as sharks, declines in a marine food web, how would this most likely affect the population of primary consumers like krill?

a. krill populations will decrease due to more competition.
b. krill populations will increase due to fewer predators of their prey.
c. krill populations will remain stable because apex predators do not eat them.
d. krill populations will decrease due to overconsumption by secondary consu

Explanation:

Apex predators like sharks control populations of secondary consumers (which eat primary consumers like krill). When shark populations decline, secondary consumer populations increase, leading to more predation/overconsumption of krill. Option A is incorrect because competition for krill is not the driver here. Option B is wrong as fewer predators of krill's prey would not directly increase krill. Option C is incorrect because apex predators indirectly affect lower trophic levels via trophic cascades, even if they do not eat krill directly.

Answer:

D. Krill populations will decrease due to overconsumption by secondary consumers