A team of students from UGA are completing a field study to determine the impact the American alligator has on ecosystems in places such as the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia over a 3-month period. In one area, they have removed the alligators and in another area they have left the alligators. After 18 months they measure the total number of different species living in each area. What it the hypothesis the students are testing? *

A) If the American alligator is a keystone species, then the ecosystem with alligators absent will be healthier and contain greater biodiversity
B) If the American alligator is a tertiary consumer, then the ecosystem with alligators absent will contain more primary producers.
C) If the American alligator is a tertiary consumer, then the ecosystem with alligators present will contain fewer primary producers.
D) If the American alligator is a keystone species, then the ecosystem with alligators present will be healthier and contain greater biodiversity.