In a well-balanced ecosystem, squirrels eat nuts, raccoons feed on squirrels, and bears feed on raccoons. it was observed that there were more squirrels and fewer raccoons. this situation indicates that (blank) 1.squirrels are at a lower trophic level then racoons 2. higher trophic lever 3. the same trophic

The correct answer is 1. squirrels are at a lower trophic level than raccoons

In the question a food chain is given:

Plants producing nuts -- squirrels -- raccoons -- bears

In the above food chain nuts producing plants are producers, squirrels are primary consumer, raccoons are secondary consumer and bears are top consumers. The feeding relationship can be graphically represented in the form of a pyramid. In a pyramid the number of organisms is highest at the base and is number of organisms get reduced as we move towards the apex of the pyramid. In the given food chain, squirrels occupies lower level than the raccoons in the pyramid. Thus, the squirrels are more in number than raccoons.  

well, that's easy; the answer's c, "it reduces contamination of the water and substrate of the estuary."

mammal

explanation: