A scientist wanted to determine if two newly discovered populations of insects e

Question

A scientist wanted to determine if two newly discovered populations of insects exchanged information with other members of the same population about the location of a food source. The scientist set up a systematic observation in which food was placed for the insects to find. Over a period of time, the scientist recorded how many insects were found at the food source. The scientist collected the following data: A graph showing the number of insects recorded at a food source over a period of time. On the horizontal x-axis is time. On the vertical y-axis is the number of insects. Both populations start at 1 insect. At 2 minutes, both are at 2 insects. At three minutes, population 1 drops to 1 and population 2 increases to 4. At 4 minutes, population 1 increases to 4 and population 2 increases to 10. At 5 minutes population 1 increases to 5 and population 2 increases to 15. At 6 minutes, population 1 peaks at 6 and population 2 increases to 17. At 7 minutes, population 1 drops to 5 insects and population 2 rises to 18. At 8 minutes population 1 drops to 4 and population 2 increases to 19. © 2012 FLVS The scientist concludes that population 2 has a greater chance of survival than population 1. What is the correct response to the scientist's conclusion? (2 points)

Invalid because it can be deduced that population 2 will run out of food before population 1.

Invalid because survival is not dependent on the data found in the observation.

Valid because the data shows population 2 is able to communicate with one another.

Valid because the data reveals population 1 is found in lower numbers than population 2.

Explanation / Answer

The correct response is --

   Valid because the data shows population 2 is able to communicate with one another.

Since food is kept at different sources and the insects of population 2 are able to reach the source, we can assume that those insects are able to communicate with each other better than the insects of population 1.

This is why, with the passage of time, the population of insects increases steadily in population 2

but there is a fluctuation in the number of insects in population 1.

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