Sealand's crocodile population has been on the decline in recent years, primarily because of hunting. Crocodiles prey heavily on a species of freshwater fish that is highly valued as food by Sealanders, who had hoped that the decline in the crocodile population would lead to an increase in the numbers of these fish available for human consumption. Yet the population of this fish species has also declined, even though the annual number caught for human consumption has not increased.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the decline in the population of the fish species? Enter the option sequences in the blank given below
A. Yellow blight, a fatal disease that was not prevalent in the region's freshwater fishes a few years back has now reached epidemic proportions
B. Over the last few years, Sealand's commercial fishing enterprises have increased the number of fishing boats they use.
C. The main predator of these fish is another species of fish on which crocodiles also prey.
D. Many Sealanders who hunt crocodiles do so because of the high market price of crocodile skins, not because of the threat crocodiles pose to the fish population.
E. In several neighbouring countries through which Sealand's rivers also flow, crocodiles are at risk of extinction as a result of extensive hunting.
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Sealand's crocodile population has been on the decline in recent years, primarily because of hunting. Crocodiles prey heavily on a species of freshwater fish that is highly valued as food by Sealanders, who had hoped that the decline in the crocodile population would lead to an increase in the numbers of these fish available for human consumption. Yet the population of this fish species has also declined, even though the annual number caught for human consumption has not increased.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the decline in the population of the fish species? Enter the option sequences in the blank given below
A. Yellow blight, a fatal disease that was not prevalent in the region's freshwater fishes a few years back has now reached epidemic proportions
B. Over the last few years, Sealand's commercial fishing enterprises have increased the number of fishing boats they use.
C. The main predator of these fish is another species of fish on which crocodiles also prey.
D. Many Sealanders who hunt crocodiles do so because of the high market price of crocodile skins, not because of the threat crocodiles pose to the fish population.
E. In several neighbouring countries through which Sealand's rivers also flow, crocodiles are at risk of extinction as a result of extensive hunting.
Option A: Correct: The disease has no relation to the declining crocodile population but clearly explains why the population of the freshwater fishes is decreasing.
Option B: The fact that Sealand's commercial fishing enterprises are increasing the number of fishing boats they are using need not imply that the population of fishes has to decline. The companies may be replacing larger boats by a greater number of smaller boats and the fishing quantity may still remain constant.
Option C: Correct: If the crocodile numbers have declined, then the numbers of the predator fish species will increase and this will lead to the decline of the freshwater fishes.
Option D: The motivation behind Sealanders hunting of crocodiles is irrelevant to the point of declining fish population.
Option E: Again, the point of crocodiles facing extinction due to excessive hunting in the neighbouring countries is irrelevant to the main issue of declining freshwater fish population.
Option A: Correct: The disease has no relation to the declining crocodile population but clearly explains why the population of the freshwater fishes is decreasing.
Option B: The fact that Sealand's commercial fishing enterprises are increasing the number of fishing boats they are using need not imply that the population of fishes has to decline. The companies may be replacing larger boats by a greater number of smaller boats and the fishing quantity may still remain constant.
Option C: Correct: If the crocodile numbers have declined, then the numbers of the predator fish species will increase and this will lead to the decline of the freshwater fishes.
Option D: The motivation behind Sealanders hunting of crocodiles is irrelevant to the point of declining fish population.
Option E: Again, the point of crocodiles facing extinction due to excessive hunting in the neighbouring countries is irrelevant to the main issue of declining freshwater fish population.
