Periwinkle Snails Prefer to Feed on the Green Alga Enteromorpha

question 2

Multiple Choice

Periwinkle snails prefer to feed on the green alga Enteromorpha . In tide pools, Enteromorpha , which other alga species, while in areas exposed at low tide, the red alga Chondrus outcompetes Enteromorpha . How did these feeding and competing interactions affect the algal populations?

• A) Periwinkles decreased species richness in both tide pools and exposed areas.
• B) Periwinkles eliminated all of the less dominant algal species.
• C) Periwinkles eliminated the dominant algae entirely.
• D) Periwinkles decreased species richness when Enteromorpha is dominant, but increased species richness when Enteromorpha is competitively inferior.
• E) Periwinkles increased species richness when Enteromorpha is dominant, but decreased species richness when Enteromorpha is competitively inferior.

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