An ecologist's goal is to maintain the health of an aquatic ecosystem by identifying potentially damaging factors before they cause problems.In her research on a pristine lake ecosystem, she would be most likely to study which topic in the natural setting rather than in a laboratory?
A) The effect of a chemical pollutant on a fish species
B) The short-term effects of genetic manipulation of algal photosynthesis
C) The changing community structure of the lake over time
D) The effects of introducing a new top predator into the lake
E) The effect of algal blooms caused by excess nutrients on lake biochemistry

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C) The changing community structure of the lake over time is a topic that would most likely be studied in its natural setting rather than in a laboratory because it involves observing and analyzing long-term, complex interactions within the entire ecosystem, which are difficult to replicate accurately in a controlled environment.

An Ecologist's Goal Is to Maintain the Health of an Aquatic