In the Early 1900s, Oyster Fishermen Cut Starfish into Pieces

In the early 1900s, oyster fishermen cut starfish into pieces and threw them back into the sea to kill predators of the oysters. This practice led to an explosion in the starfish population because

A) other starfish ate the pieces and were able to increase their reproductive output.
B) several pieces from each original starfish regenerated into a new individual.
C) removing competition from the weak starfish that were caught allowed stronger starfish to increase their reproductive output.
D) the oyster population grew in response to this new supply of food, allowing the population of their predators to increase as well.
E) None of the above