Effect of Predators on Number of Polychaete Species Number of
Polychaete Species-
Predator Present
10
Number of
Predator Polychaete Species-
Predator Absent
pinfish
10
pink shrimp
14
grass shrimp
17
blue crab
17
Source: Estuarine Research Foundation
7
14
8
Based on the information in the graph and the table, how has competition among predators affected species diversity in
seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mexico?
A Over time, the number of pink shrimp has decreased and the number of pinfish has decreased.
B Over time, the number of grass shrimp has decreased and the number of blue crab has increased.
Over time, pink shrimp have adapted to eat a wider variety of prey species compared to other predator species.
D Over time, blue crab have adapted to eat more of their diet in polychaetes compared to other predator species.