Which statement explains why more light-colored fish were found after the water became clearer?
A. The dark-colored fish began eating the eggs of the light-colored fish
B. More light-colored fish survived long enough to reproduce
C. The light-colored fish mated with other species of light-colored fish
D. More dark-colored fish switched to asexual reproduction
I think it is B
Plz help
I think you are right
lighter fish are less visible than darker fish in the clearer water
Ok thanks
To determine which statement explains why more light-colored fish were found after the water became clearer, it is important to evaluate each option.
To understand the answer, we need to consider the concept of natural selection. Natural selection refers to the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time. This occurs because individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing down those traits to their offspring.
Now, let's evaluate each statement:
A. The dark-colored fish began eating the eggs of the light-colored fish: This statement suggests that the increase in light-colored fish is due to predation by dark-colored fish. However, if predation caused a decline in light-colored fish, it would not explain why more of them were found after the water became clearer. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.
B. More light-colored fish survived long enough to reproduce: This statement suggests that the lighter-colored fish had a higher survival rate and were able to reproduce successfully. If the water becoming clearer provided an advantage to light-colored fish, they would be more likely to survive and pass down their traits to the next generation. This is a plausible explanation given the information provided, as clearer water can enhance the visibility of light-colored fish and potentially improve their chances of survival. Therefore, this option is the most likely correct answer.
C. The light-colored fish mated with other species of light-colored fish: This statement implies that the increase in light-colored fish is a result of mating with other species. However, the question does not mention the presence of other species, and mating with different species would likely result in hybrids rather than a larger population of light-colored fish. Hence, this option does not explain why more light-colored fish were found.
D. More dark-colored fish switched to asexual reproduction: This statement suggests that dark-colored fish switched from sexual reproduction to asexual reproduction, which would not explain the increase in light-colored fish. Additionally, asexual reproduction typically results in exact clones of the parent, so it wouldn't account for the presence of light-colored fish. This option is not a valid explanation.
Considering the above analysis, option B: "More light-colored fish survived long enough to reproduce" is the most logical and likely explanation for why more light-colored fish were found after the water became clearer.