When Robert Paine removed Sea Stars that feed primarily on a mollusk called a Mussel from the rocky intertidal
zone of the Pacific Northwest in the 1970's and 1980's, he noticed that the number of species on the rocks
declined from the original 15 down to a single species - just the Mussel. In this case removal of the Sea Star
most likely
decreased competition for resources among the original 15 species
allowed the mussel to eliminate all of its competition from the rocks because the Sea Star ate the mussel
had no direct effect on the system and more research needed to be performed
increased competition for resources among the original 15 species
