A simplified food chain and its corresponding food web are shown here. These species are commonly found in deciduous forests of the Southeastern United States. A homeowner in South Carolina, whose house and yard are adjacent to native tree stands, applies a fungicide to the area of his yard and the surrounding area. The fungicide kills fungi and prevents their reproduction. His neighbor advises against this practice and states that the yard and his garden will perform better without the fungicide. Defend the neighbor's statement with accurate justification.

A) The fungicide will reduce the frog population as it runs off into the adjacent waters, which will cause a reduction in the beetle population as well.
B) The fungicide will reduce the number of squirrels because the chemical will directly reduce the acorn availability, which will reduce the frog population.
C) The fungicide will increase the plant biomass, which could lead to overgrazing by herbivores, which will be followed by a decrease in ecosystem stability.
D) The fungicide will reduce the stability of the ecosystem because nutrients in the soil will be less likely to be recycled, directly impacting plant nutrition and growth.