A population of small fish lives in a lake with a sandy bottom. Large shore birds prey on these fish. Although most of the fish are the same light brown color as the sandy lake bottom, about 10% are mottled. A construction company dumps a load of gravel in the bottom of the lake, giving it a mottled appearance. Which outcome would you predict?

Reduction in consumption of mottled-color fishes

Explanation:

Since deposited gravel appear mottled, a perfect surrounding has been provided for mottled-colored fishes to mimic/camouflage their environment.

Thus, the 10% mottled-colored fishes would most likely escape being seen and consumed by large shore birds.

1: most common garden plants prefer loam — soils with a balance of different-sized mineral particles (approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay) with ample organic matter and pore space. however, some plants grow better in sandy soils, while others are well-adapted to clay soils.

2: available water capacity is the maximum amount of plant available water a soil can provide. it is an indicator of a soil's ability to retain water and make it sufficiently available for plant use. available water capacity is the water held in soil between its field capacity and permanent wilting point.

3: it is the same for all living things (plants and animals). it also includes very tiny organisms that our eyes cannot see. they are known as microorganisms, and include viruses, bacteria and fungi.