[Campbell Biology P.777] According to the text, which of the following is a significant anth... | Practice Question

According to the text, which of the following is a significant anthropogenic human-caused pressure currently affecting ray-finned fish populations?

  • A: Natural predatory behavior from other marine animals.
  • B: Industrial-scale fishing operations leading to population collapse and habitat alteration from dam construction.
  • C: The evolution of new, more efficient predators in their ecosystem.
  • D: Decreased protein demand from humans, making fishing economically unviable.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'However, industrial-scale fishing operations have driven some of the world's biggest fisheries to collapse.' and 'Ray-finned fishes also face other pressures from humans, such as the diversion of rivers by dams. Changing water flow patterns can hamper the fishes' ability to obtain food and interferes with migratory pathways and spawning grounds.'