Use the Figure to Answer the Following Question

question 39

Multiple Choice

Use the figure to answer the following question. Treehoppers (a type of insect) produce honeydew, which ants use for food. Treehoppers have a major predator, the jumping spider. Researchers hypothesized that the ants would protect the treehoppers from the spiders. In an experiment, researchers followed study plots with ants removed from the system and compared them to a control plot. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the data provided in the figure?

• A) Ants do somehow protect the treehoppers from spiders.
• B) Ants eat the honeydew produced by treehoppers.
• C) Ants reduce the numbers of treehoppers.
• D) No specific conclusions can be drawn from this figure.

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A visual representation of Earth's surface, displaying geographical features, political borders, and major cities.

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Openings in Earth's crust that allow molten rock, ash, and gases to escape from below the surface.

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Natural phenomena involving the shaking of the ground, usually caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.

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The manner in which a phenomenon or characteristic is spread out over an area or volume.