Beaked whales feed at various depths, but they defecate at the ocean’s surface. Nitrogen-rich whale feces deposited in surface waters supply nutrients for algae that are eaten by surface-dwelling fish. Which of the following best predicts what would happen if the whale population decreased?

A reduction in whales reduces the amount of feces deposited in surface waters. Algae will have reduced growth due to the reduced amount of feces. Fish, having less algae to feed off of, will also diminish in number.