In 1991, scientist James Estes and his team observed a new trend of orcas preying on sea otters. Orcas normally prey on great whales, but those populations had been dramatically reduced by industrial whaling. Estes hypothesized that the decrease in the great whale population had caused orcas to turn to smaller prey -- sea otters. If this hypothesis is correct, predict what might happen to sea otter numbers if great whale population numbers increase.
a. Sea otter populations would decrease.
b. Sea otter populations would increase.
c. Sea otter populations would stay the same.
d. There is not enough information.
Answer: b. Sea otter populations would increase.
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