C
Below is a question with multiple-choice answers. Choose the correct option based on your reasoning.

### Question:
Which of the following would most likely happen if grasses and shrubs were removed from a rural Massachusetts ecosystem?

### Choices:
A. There would be an increase in consumers in the ecosystem.
B. There would be an increase of photosynthesis in the ecosystem.
C. There would be a decrease in food energy produced by the ecosystem.
D. There would be a decrease of carbon dioxide available to the ecosystem.

### Answer:
