Question

Joseph Connell showed that when Balanus are removed from the intertidal zone, Chthamalus expanded to occupy the space formerly occupied by Balanus. What would you predict if he removed Chthamalus?

Answer 1

c) Since Balanus is the superior competitor, it probably cannot live in the high intertidal zone.

Step-by-step explanation:

Options:

a) Since Balanus is the superior competitor, it probably would move up into space Chthamalus occupied.

b) Since Chthamalus is the superior competitor, it probably would move down into the space Balanus occupied.

c) Since Balanus is the superior competitor, it probably cannot live in the high intertidal zone.

d) The Balanus would disappear as well, since it preys on Chthamalus.

This scenario describes a case of interspecific competition, a competition that occurs between organisms from different species.

According to the experiment, when Balanus was removed, the species Chthamalus expanded to occupy the original ecological niche of Balanus. This indicates that Balanus is the superior competitor.

Therefore, it would have occupied the niche of Chthamalus by now and expanded if it was possible for the Balanus species to survive in the high intertidal zone as superior competitors have the capability to eliminate another species. In this case, the Balanus is unable to do it because it cannot survive in Chthamalus's habitat.

So, the correct answer should be c: since Balanus is the superior competitor, it probably cannot live in the high intertidal zone.