The walking catfish, or Clarias batrachus, is an invasive species that can migrate over land. Which of the following describes the most likely long-term consequence of the introduction of the walking catfish?
A. The walking catfish will become unable to survive in its native territory as it continues to migrate.
B. Dissolved oxygen levels will increase as more fish are able to breathe and survive above water.
C. Native fish populations will decline and possibly become extinct as they compete for food and space.
D. Larger fish will overpopulate due to the presence of an additional food source.
Answer (2)
The invasive species is the one which compete for resources with the native species. Such species may be introduced accidentally or due to human intention to a new habitat.
The long term consequence can be define as the impact of a biotic or abiotic factor on the environment which leads to the extinction of species and makes the environment unsuitable for survival of new organisms for long time.
Due to introduction of catfish which is an invasive species, the native species population will decline and extinct due to competition with native species. Hence, it can be considered as a long term consequence of introduction of catfish.
The introduction of the walking catfish is likely to lead to a decline in native fish populations due to competition for food and habitat, potentially resulting in their extinction. Consequently, this can disrupt the ecological balance of their environments. The chosen answer is C: Native fish populations will decline and possibly become extinct as they compete for food and space.
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