Ecology Regents Practice Exam

The major impact of overfishing on marine ecosystems is the disruption of food webs. Overfishing depletes fish populations, particularly those that are key species within their ecological niches, leading to imbalances in the marine ecosystem. When a significant number of a specific fish species is removed from an ecosystem, it can cause a cascading effect on both predator and prey relationships.

For example, if a predatory fish species is overfished, the population of its prey may increase dramatically, which can result in overgrazing of algal populations and subsequent harm to the overall habitat. This imbalance can reduce biodiversity as species that depend on specific fish populations for food may struggle to survive, leading to further declines in species variety.

The disruption of food webs exemplifies the interconnectedness of marine life—when one species is affected, it influences many others, highlighting the importance of maintaining sustainable fishing practices to preserve the health of marine ecosystems.