Use the figures to answer the following question.

In this experiment, Balanus was removed from the habitat shown on the left.
Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?
A) Balanus can survive only in the lower intertidal zone because it is unable to resist desiccation.
B) Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on rocks lower in the intertidal zone.
C) When the two species of barnacles compete with each other, both species still occupy low and high tide areas.
D) The removal of Balanus shows that competitive exclusion prevented Chthamalus from occupying the lower tide region of its fundamental niche.

Question

Use the figures to answer the following question.

In this experiment, Balanus was removed from the habitat shown on the left.
Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?
A) Balanus can survive only in the lower intertidal zone because it is unable to resist desiccation. 
B) Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on rocks lower in the intertidal zone. 
C) When the two species of barnacles compete with each other, both species still occupy low and high tide areas. 
D) The removal of Balanus shows that competitive exclusion prevented Chthamalus from occupying the lower tide region of its fundamental niche.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The experiment involved the removal of Balanus from the habitat, and the observation of the subsequent distribution of Chthamalus. If Chthamalus was able to occupy the lower tide region of its fundamental niche only after Balanus was removed, it suggests that Balanus was competitively excluding Chthamalus from this region. Therefore, the removal of Balanus shows that competitive exclusion prevented Chthamalus from occupying the lower tide region of its fundamental niche, making option D the correct choice. Options A, B, and C are not supported by the experiment.

Use the Figures to Answer the Following Question