Experimental Inquiry: Can a Species Niche Be Influenced by Interspecific Competi

Question

Experimental Inquiry: Can a Species Niche Be Influenced by Interspecific Competition? In the late 1950s, Joseph Connell observed that the rocky coasts of Scotland were covered with two species of barnacles with unique distributions. The upper intertidal zone contained only adult stages of Chthamalus stellatus, while the lower intertidal zone contained only adult stages of Balanus lower intertidal zone also contained younger stages of both species. upper intendal Part A Experimental technique: Testing the hypothesis of competitive exclusion Connell observed that each spring, larval stages of both Balanus and Chthamalus settled onto rocks in the lower intertidal zone and developed into early adult stages with hard shells. However, by the end of each summer, only Balanus adults remained on the rocks in the lower intertidal zone. Based on these observations, Connell made this hypothesis: Chthamalus adults are competitively excluded from the lower intertidal zone through their interactions with neighboring Balanus adults. Connell tested his hypothesis using a four-step protocol. Step 3 is particularly important in setting up the experimental and control groups in his experiment. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 on each transplanted rock Transplant rocks with Othamais early adults from the upper entertdal Which of the following choices would be the most logical third step in Connell's experimental procedure, permitting him to either accept or reject his hypothesis of competitive exclusion? Move the

Explanation / Answer

Step 3 would be first option. move half of the transplanted rocks back into the upper intertidal zone. When these rocks are brought down and balamus thrive on it, it means it is capable of thriving on any rock in the lower intertidal zone. If we shift these transplanted rocks back to the upper intertidal zone and if these balamus numbers decrease it means they are not capable of surviving there.

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