Some Marine Snails (Species L) Produce Large Numbers of Small

question 59

Multiple Choice

Some marine snails (species L) produce large numbers of small eggs that are shed into the sea, hatch at an early stage of development, and feed on microscopic plants. Other marine snails (species S) produce few eggs that are retained for a long time within the body of the mother snail in a brood pouch, hatch at an advanced stage of development, and immediately begin to feed on the surfaces of large plants like the adults. If a biologist discovers approximately equal numbers of adults of species L and S in the same area over many generations, which of the following is most likely?

• A) Young that parents care for until they reach a more advanced stage have a greater chance of survival.
• B) Approximately the same percentage of young produced by each species survive to maturity.
• C) Organisms that produce a greater number of offspring will likely replace organisms with fewer offspring.
• D) The young of species L grow more rapidly than the young of species S.

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