Snails typically avoid sunlit areas,but some snails infected with certain parasites become attracted to light and prefer sunlit areas.Which of the following is the most likely hypothesis given the life cycles of many parasites?
A)The parasite itself must be exposed to light in order to survive in the snail.
B)The parasite manipulates the behavior of the snail so that it gets eaten more readily,which allows the parasite to complete its life cycle.
C)The snail is behaving differently in order to rid itself of the parasite.
D)The snail is dying from the parasite and is therefore looking for the light.
E)The parasite must exit the snail in a sunlit area in order to move and find its next host.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Many parasites have complex life cycles that involve multiple hosts. The parasite may manipulate the behavior of the intermediate host (in this case, the snail) to increase its chances of being eaten by the next host in the cycle. This is known as host manipulation, and it is a common strategy used by many parasites. In this case, the infected snails are attracted to light and prefer sunlit areas, which may make them more visible and more likely to be eaten by the next host in the parasite's life cycle.

Snails Typically Avoid Sunlit Areas,but Some Snails Infected with Certain