What term describes the alteration of the food web to improve water clarity?

The term that describes the alteration of the food web to improve water clarity is biomanipulation. This method involves managing the populations of certain organisms within an ecosystem, particularly in aquatic environments, to enhance water quality and clarity. The fundamental principle behind biomanipulation is that by altering the composition and abundance of specific trophic levels, such as herbivorous zooplankton or filter-feeding fish, one can influence the growth of algae and organic matter in the water column.

For example, if the plant-eating or phytoplankton-eating organisms are increased, they can help control the algal populations. This process results in clearer water as fewer nutrients are available for algae to proliferate, thus improving overall ecosystem health.

The other terms in the options do not accurately describe this specific process regarding food web alteration for better water clarity. Ecosystem engineering refers to the modification of the physical environment by organisms, catalytic adjustment does not have a widely recognized meaning in this context, and ecological restoration focuses more broadly on restoring ecosystems to their original conditions rather than specifically targeting food web dynamics for clarity improvements.