Question

The zebra mussel arrived in the United States in 1985 on the ballast of a ship. Since this time, it has spread rapidly throughout the waterways of the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada. Which of the following statements is NOT true about how the waters of the United States contributed to the success of the zebra mussel?
They contained an abundance of prey for the zebra mussel.
They contained toxins or pollutants that eliminated natural competitors of the zebra mussel.
They contained few or no natural predators of the zebra mussel.
They contained few or no natural species occupying the niche filled by the zebra mussel.

Answer 1

Answer:

They contained few or no natural species occupying the niche filled by the zebra mussel.

Explanation:

All the available options are capable of contributing to the success of the zebra mussel in the United State water.

However, it is not true that the United State water contained few or no natural species occupying the niche filled by the zebra mussel. The zebra mussel are exotic species that got into the United State water around 1991 and were able to outcompete the native species and multiply rapidly, a characteristic of an invasive species.

Abundance of prey for the zebra mussel will ensure that their population thrives due to adequate availability of food.

The presence of toxins or pollutants that eliminate natural competitors of the zebra mussel will enable their population to thrive due to lack of competition for resources, provided the toxins/pollutants are not toxic to the zebra mussels themselves.

The presence of few or no natural predator will also enables the population of zebra mussels to thrive because that is another limiting factor removed.

Answer 2

The answer is most likely the second choice. All answer choices could be possible, but in light of the others the second choice is far too specific, and there is no information in the prompt to even indicate that as a plausible answer choice.