In an ecosystem, marsh snails feed on phytoplankton and painted turtles feed on marsh snails. Pollution has resulted in the depletion of phytoplankton. What effect would this situation likely have on the population of marsh snails and painted turtles? As phytoplankton were destroyed, the population of marsh snails would most likely . Then the population of painted turtles would mostly likely .

The correct answers are:  decrease and decrease.

Explanation:

Phytoplanktons are the producers in this ecosystem while marsh snails are the primary consumers and painted turtles are the secondary consumers. It is known that the producers affect direct or indirect to all other trophic levels and it is also known that in the food chain decrease in the producer or bottom of the chain will affect all.

The numbers of marsh snails will decrease due to its food source and as painted turtles depend on marsh snail the population of these also decrease as marsh snails are the primary food source of the painted turtles.

1and1

Explanation: