Apply: ecological interactions

Blue crabs and mussels interact in a coastal ecosystem. When the size of the blue crab population gets bigger, the size of the mussel population tends to get smaller.

Which of these best describes the interaction between blue crabs and mussels in the coastal ecosystem?

(Choice A)
a predatory interaction in which the blue crabs are the predators and the mussels are the prey
(Choice B)
a competitive interaction in which the mussels out-compete the blue crabs for food
(Choice C)
a mutualistic interaction in which the blue crabs and mussels help each other survive

Middle school biology - NGSS

Course: Middle school biology - NGSS > Unit 4

Problem