A Shift in Weather Patterns Causes a Drought

question 69

Multiple Choice

A shift in weather patterns causes a drought. The normally moist forest becomes dry, with the leaf litter on the forest floor blowing away in high winds. The creek, which normally overflows and floods the forest floor every time it rains, dries up. What would you expect to happen to the slime molds that live in the area?

• A) The plasmodium would expand and colonize the now -clean forest floor.
• B) The slime mold would begin making red photosynthetic pigments.
• C) The slime mold would begin parasitizing humans.
• D) Dry conditions would encourage the slime mold to photosynthesize.
• E) The slime molds would shift from the plasmodium and form fruiting bodies.

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Definitions:

Nutrient Rich Soil

Soil that has a high content of essential nutrients required for plant growth, typically including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Resource Partitioning

Evolutionary process whereby species become adapted in different ways to access different portions of a limited resource; allows species with similar needs to coexist.

Prey Defense

Strategies and adaptations developed by prey animals to evade, deter, or escape from predators.

Camouflage

Camouflage is a strategy used by animals, plants, and other organisms to blend in with their surroundings to hide from predators or to ambush prey.