A wooded area experienced an extreme drought after years of very little rainfall. What was the most likely effect of the drought on this ecosystem?

A. Populations of soil organisms increased as the amount of water in the soil decreased.
B. Populations of herbivores increased due to the increased vegetation available for them to eat.
C. Populations of plants that require very little water decreased more than those that need a lot of water.
D. Populations of both trees and shrubs decreased due to the increased competition for water.