Microorganisms can mutate and evolve very quickly compared to most multicellular organisms. this allows pathogenic microorganisms to infect new species. suppose a very harmful microorganism that is quite successful at infecting hardwood trees is introduced into a forest ecosystem. what effect would this pathogenic microorganism most likely have? a. it would maintain the balance of the ecosystem by reducing the population of one species. b. it would maintain the balance of the ecosystem by reducing the populations of all the species. c. it would disrupt the ecosystem by infecting and killing the populations of all the species. d. it would disrupt the ecosystem by greatly reducing the population of a few species.