Use This Description to Answer the Following Question

question 11

Multiple Choice

Use this description to answer the following question.
Experts in white-tailed deer ecology generally agree that population sizes of deer that live in temperate climates are limited by winter snow. The deer congregate in "yarding" areas under evergreen trees because venturing out to feed in winter is energetically too expensive when snowfall depths accumulate to above 40 cm. Deer often stay yarded until the spring thaw. Snow depth over 40 inches for more than 60 days results in high mortality due to starvation.
-This observation best illustrates which of the following principles about factors that limit distribution of organisms?

• A) Abiotic factors, such as weather extremes, ultimately limit distribution.
• B) Organisms will face extinction unless they adapt to conditions or evolve new mechanisms for survival.
• C) Environmental factors are limiting not only in amount but also in longevity.
• D) Daily accumulations in snow depth gradually add up to cause increased deer mortality.
• E) Temporary extremes in weather conditions usually result in high mortality in the deer population.

---

Definitions:

Banded Sunfish

A freshwater fish species characterized by its distinctive bands or stripes, found in the eastern United States.

Multicellular

Organisms composed of multiple cells that work together, often specializing in different tasks, to function as a single organism.

Filamentous

Describes a thread-like shape, often referring to the structure of certain bacteria, fungi, or algae.

Absorbs Food

The process by which nutrients from ingested food are taken up by the body, typically occurring in the intestines.