Answer:
The correct answer is option b. "Guppy color patterns would change; guppies would produce fewer but larger offspring; the nitrogen excretion rate would increase and the rate of growth of primary producers such as algae would increase".
Explanation:
The Trinidadian guppy is a species of fish with the scientific name Poecilia reticulata. Just like almost all species, its population is regulated for multiple factors, one of them being the presence of predators. The removal of Trinidadian guppy predators would result in multiple consequences:
- Guppy color patterns would change. The fish have a complex coloration determined largely by predation avoidance.
- Guppies would produce fewer but larger offspring. This adaptation has been proved in an experiment at which the fish was introduced one a low predation environment. The report proved that evolution can take place in less than 10 years.
- The nitrogen excretion rate would increase. It has been reported that predation reduce Trinidadian guppy nitrogen excretion by 40%. Removing the predators will case the nitrogen excretion rate to increase due to an increase in the fish food intake.
- The rate of growth of primary producers such as algae would increase. This is an effect of the increase of nitrogen excretion rate, which benefits algae population to growth.