❓ Question According to the passage, what was the primary result of removing the purple sea star in Paine's experiment?
- A. A. The mussel population declined sharply, leading to an increase in other species.
- B. B. The mussel population grew rapidly, reducing overall biodiversity by outcompeting other species.
- C. C. The sea star's absence had no significant effect on the intertidal community.
- D. D. The ecosystem became more stable due to increased competition among species.