A simplified food chain and its corresponding food web are shown here. These species are commonly found in deciduous forests of the Southeastern United States. A homeowner in South Carolina, whose house and yard are adjacent to native tree stands, applies a fungicide to the area of his yard and the surrounding area. The fungicide kills fungi and prevents their reproduction. His neighbor advises against this practice and states that the yard and his garden will perform better without the fungicide. Defend the neighbor's statement with accurate justification.

A) The fungicide will reduce the frog population as it runs off into the adjacent waters, which will cause a reduction in the beetle population as well.
B) The fungicide will reduce the number of squirrels because the chemical will directly reduce the acorn availability, which will reduce the frog population.
C) The fungicide will increase the plant biomass, which could lead to overgrazing by herbivores, which will be followed by a decrease in ecosystem stability.
D) The fungicide will reduce the stability of the ecosystem because nutrients in the soil will be less likely to be recycled, directly impacting plant nutrition and growth.

D) The fungicide will reduce the stability of the ecosystem because nutrients in the soil will be less likely to be recycled, directly impacting plant nutrition and growth.

Explanation:

Fungicide are primarily applied to an area to kill off fungi species in that place.

Fungi are very important groups of organisms. They are natural "recyclers".

In a food chain or web they can be classified as decomposers.

Decomposers are organisms that takes feeds on dead and decaying organic matter.

The produce useful materials and releases nutrients from life back into nature.

Killing them off by applying fungicides is a damaging act to their sustenance.

Without decomposers such as fungi, the ecosystem becomes less stable and soil nutrients will not be properly recycled.