Zooplankton Populations in Lake Erie and the Hudson River Have

Zooplankton populations in Lake Erie and the Hudson River have declined by up to 70% since the arrival of zebra mussels because ______________.

A) zebra mussels carry a parasite that kills zooplankton
B) zebra mussels block sunlight penetration into lakes and thus prevent zooplankton from photosynthesizing
C) zebra mussels feed on phytoplankton, which zooplankton need as a food source
D) waste from zebra mussels promotes bacterial growth that kills zooplankton
E) zebra mussels prey exclusively on zooplankton