Egrets are birds that walk into the shallow waters of marshes and wetlands to catch fish and insects with their long beaks. Which short-term environmental change is most likely to directly affect a population of edrets along the coast of Florida? drought earthquake forest fire

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking us to identify the short-term environmental change that would most likely directly affect a population of egrets living along the coast of Florida. Egrets are known to live in marshes and wetlands, where they feed on fish and insects. <br /><br />## Step 2<br />Given the options of drought, earthquake, and forest fire, we need to consider which of these would have the most direct impact on the egrets' habitat. <br /><br />## Step 3<br />Drought is a condition characterized by a lack of rainfall, which can lead to a decrease in water levels in marshes and wetlands. This would directly affect the egrets' habitat, as they rely on these areas for feeding and breeding. <br /><br />## Step 4<br />Earthquakes and forest fires, while they can cause significant damage, do not directly affect the egrets' habitat in the same way as a drought does. Earthquakes can cause physical changes to the landscape, but they do not necessarily affect the water levels in marshes and wetlands. Forest fires can destroy vegetation, but they do not directly affect the water levels in marshes and wetlands.