Biology

The correct answer is: A.Crabs face less competition and increase in number.

Explanation:

1.Sea otters are known to prey on crabs and other marine invertebrates. When the otter population decreases due to poaching, there are fewer otters hunting crabs. This reduces the competition for food, as the otters no longer pose the same level of predation pressure on crabs.

2.With less competition from otters, crab populations would likely increase because they would face less predation and have greater access to resources.

Let's review the other options:

B.Crabs face more competition from other species.

This is not likely to be the case. While other species might compete with crabs, the immediate impact of otter population decline is reduced competition from otters, not an increase in competition from other species.<...